Russia Establishes New Demographic Task Force to Combat Record Low Birth Rates

Russia has formed a new group of officials, referred to as a “demographic special forces unit,” in response to the alarming drop in birth rates nationwide, as reported by the RBC business daily on Thursday.

This initiative was unveiled during a press conference led by Valentina Matviyenko, the head of the Federation Council.

Matviyenko stated that the establishment of this group prioritizes family-related issues for the government.

“Currently, any regional government body can provide the name of the deputy minister who oversees demographic matters. We have established a special task force dedicated to demographics. We are optimistic that we will return to traditional values,” she mentioned.

The creation of this group aligns with earlier strategies aimed at tackling Russia’s escalating demographic crisis.

Despite extensive campaigns promoting larger families, public appeals from officials, including President Vladimir Putin, and measures to restrict access to abortions, Russia has struggled to reverse its demographic downturn.

Data from the first quarter of 2025 indicates a 4% year-on-year decline in births, with only 288,800 reported.

The annual statistics are similarly concerning: in 2024, merely 1.2 million children were born — the lowest number since 1999, and a decrease of 3.4% from the previous year.

To manage public perception of this crisis, authorities have limited access to comprehensive demographic statistics and overall population figures for the country.

In 2018, Putin launched the National Demography Project with the aim of reversing the population decline within six years.

Last year, he reiterated the objective of bringing natural population decline to a halt by 2030.