Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly encouraged Russians to have intimate relations during lunch and coffee breaks at work in a bid to address the country’s declining birth rate. The initiative comes at a time when Russia’s fertility rate, which currently stands at around 1.5 children per woman, is well below the 2.1 rate needed to maintain a stable population. Metro According to reports, more than one million Russians, mostly young Russians, have fled the country during the ongoing war with Ukraine.
Health Minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov stressed that being too busy at work is not a valid excuse to avoid having children. He suggested that people could take advantage of their leave to focus on growing their families, saying “life goes by very fast.”
When a reporter asked her how people who work 12 to 14 hour days find time to have children, she replied that they can use their vacations.
Earlier, Putin had stressed, “The security of the Russian people is our top national priority. The fate of Russia…depends on how many of us there will be. This is a question of national importance.”
Notably, Russia’s birth rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1999, with the number of live births falling below 100,000 in June. This steep drop has raised concerns about a serious population decline in Moscow. According to Russia’s official statistics agency Rosstat, the country has seen a significant drop in the birth rate, with 16,000 fewer babies born between January and June 2024 compared to the same period last year. euro news,
This decline will be exacerbated by an 18% population growth, and 2024 will see 49,000 more deaths recorded than last year, likely due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s efforts to increase Russia’s declining birth rate have resulted in a number of measures, including:
- Free fertility testing: Women aged 18-40 in Moscow are encouraged to undergo free fertility testing to evaluate their “fertility potential.”
- Pressure on employers: MP Tatyana Butskaya has proposed a plan to put pressure on employers to encourage their female employees to have children.
- Incentive: Chelyabinsk region is giving female students under 24 £8,500 for the birth of their first child
- Abortion Restrictions: Abortion access is being blocked across the country, as public figures and churchmen claim that women’s duty is to bear and raise children.
- Divorce Fees: Divorce fees have been increased to discourage separation.
Politician Anna Kuznetsova has also called on women to have children at an early age. She said: “You should start having children at the age of 19-20. Then, statistically, the family will be able to have three, four or more children.”
However, critics argue that these policies undermine personal autonomy, especially for women, and may have unintended consequences for Russia’s social fabric.
