Ukraine’s population has fallen by 10 million since Russia’s invasion, UN says

Ukraine’s population has decreased by 10 million, or about a quarter, since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. This decline is due to refugees leaving the country, a drop in fertility rates, and deaths caused by the war. The invasion has worsened an already challenging demographic situation, with the birth rate now at one child per woman, well below the 2.1 needed for a stable population. The impact of the war on Ukraine’s population will be better understood after the conflict ends and a full census can be conducted. The war has led to regions being depopulated, leaving villages with only elderly residents and couples unable to have children. Russia has also seen a decline in its population since the invasion, with its lowest birth rate in over two decades. The largest portion of Ukraine’s population decline is due to the 6.7 million refugees now living abroad, primarily in Europe, with war deaths also contributing to the decrease.