Marriage and birth rates have plummeted as the country faces severe demographic issues
Russia’s divorce rate has reached unprecedented levels, with eight out of ten marriages ending in separation in 2024, according to Elena Mikhailova, an adviser to the director general of the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM). The ratio places Russia third globally for divorce rates, Mikhailova told a press conference on Wednesday.
Statistics from Rosstat have revealed a significant decline in the number of marriages. Between January and September 2024, 689,800 couples married, marking a 5% drop compared to the same period in 2023 and the lowest September figure recorded in 18 years.
Annual marriage numbers have steadily fallen over the last decade, from up to 1.3 million between 2006 and 2013 to just 945,000 in 2023.
The declining number of marriages has coincided with a reduction in birth rates. In 2023, just over 1.2 million children were born in Russia, the lowest figure since 1999 and one-third fewer than in 2014.
The downward trend has continued in 2024, with a 3.5% decrease in births in the first nine months of the year. The Russian government has expressed growing concern over these demographic trends.
President Vladimir Putin recently described the situation as one of the “most difficult challenges” facing the country. He urged citizens to have larger families, reminiscent of “ancient Russia,” where having seven or eight children was the norm.
In response, the State Duma has introduced legislation requiring psychological counseling for couples with children before they can finalize a divorce. However, the effectiveness of such measures in addressing the root causes of rising separations remains uncertain.
International comparisons reveal similar challenges elsewhere. In China, the number of marriages fell from 13 million in 2013 to fewer than 7 million in 2022, while divorces reached a record 4.7 million in 2019, four times higher than two decades earlier.
