Population of Ukraine decreased by a quarter due to war – UN
23 October 15:32Ukraine’s population has decreased by 10 million people, or about a quarter, since the start of the full-scale war. This is reported by Reuters, citing UN data, according to Komersant Ukrainian
This dramatic change is caused by the mass exodus of refugees, a decline in the birth rate and an increase in mortality due to the fighting.
Florence Bauer, head of the UN Population Fund in Eastern Europe, noted that Russia’s invasion in February 2022 further exacerbated the demographic crisis in Ukraine.
“The fertility rate has fallen to a critically low level of about one child per woman, which is one of the lowest in the world. To maintain a stable population, this rate should be at 2.1,”
– Bauer emphasised.
According to her, the regions most affected by the population decline are those where the war has left mostly elderly or single people unable to start a family. In addition, about 6.7 million Ukrainians are currently abroad, mainly in Europe, which also has a significant impact on demographics.
An accurate picture of the demographic losses will be available only after the war is over, when a full-fledged census will be possible, Bauer said.
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State Statistics Service suspends publication of population data due to war
The State Statistics Service, at the request of Kommersant Ukrainian, said that due to the war with Russia, it is currently impossible to obtain data on the number and migration of the population. According to the agency, due to the hostilities and other difficulties, administrative data usually provided by the territorial bodies of the Ministry of Justice and local councils are not received in full. This has made it impossible to publish up-to-date statistics since 2022.
According to Ukrainian law, state authorities may not publish statistical information if its accuracy cannot be ensured. At the moment , population data is not being updated, and this process will resume after the end of the war and the restoration of a stable reporting system.
More information about the situation with statistics before the full-scale invasion can be found on the website of the State Statistics Service, the agency concludes.