Ukraine is working on strategy to overcome demographic crisis

The Ministry of Social Policy's press service reported this, citing estimates from the Institute of Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Social Policy proposes adopting a Strategy aimed at ensuring a decent standard and quality of life for every Ukrainian, creating conditions for the return of Ukrainian citizens from abroad, and replenishing the population. At the core of the concept is the "minimization of the consequences of war and mitigation of the demographic crisis, which will be reflected in significantly improved demographic dynamics parameters."

Read also: Ukraine’s demographic apocalypse: millions of refugees, war losses and how to address population challenges

"According to this scenario, the population will reach 33.9 million people by January 1, 2041, and 31.6 million people by January 1, 2051," the department noted.

The first strategic goal is to increase the birth rate. According to the department's calculations, to restore the population, the target birth rate should be around 2.2. Therefore, the government plans to create favorable conditions and provide support to families in realizing their desire to give birth to and raise the desired number of children.

To achieve this strategic goal, the Ministry of Social Policy has outlined 5 tasks.

The second strategic goal is to reduce premature mortality, and the third is to ensure population growth through migration.

"The policy regarding return should focus not only on Ukrainian citizens who left abroad with the beginning of full-scale aggression but also on those who left earlier and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora - individuals of Ukrainian origin and their descendants who have citizenship of other states," clarified the Ministry of Social Policy.

It was noted there that the largest Ukrainian diaspora as of 2019 was residing in Russia. In second place was Canada, and in third place was the USA.

A total of 6 strategic goals have been identified.

• Earlier, demographer Ella Libanova said that, according to the most optimistic forecast, in 10 years, no more than 35 million people will live in Ukraine within the 1991 borders. In her opinion, Ukraine will still be a poor country in 10 years, and millions of men will leave for their wives if the borders are opened.