Wartorn Russia facing time bomb that could see population wipe out

Russia is facing a demographic time bomb that could result in a "population wipe out" after new data suggested a massive drop in the number of women of reproductive age.

Vladimir Putin is facing a catastrophic decline in demographics as a plunging birth rate and the ongoing war in Ukraine take its toll. Data from 2024 showed only 1.22 million births being recorded, the lowest rate since 1999.

Russia's official statistical agency Rosstat said the rate is set to decline further to just 1.14 million by 2027. he country's high mortality rate has also been a major set back, exceeding births for several years.

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Drugs, alcoholism and deaths from the war in the Ukraine are all major contributors to the mortality rate in Russia. But declining birth rates is a major concern for officials in the country.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Tayana Golikova old members of the Communist Party that the total number of child-bearing women would end up falling by 7 million by 2046, down from 34 million to 27 million. She added: "Russia lives on a decreasing trajectory of the main reproductive group of the population."

She added Russian women refusing abortions increased to about 25 per cent, although later admitting "this is still not enough." Some experts believe Russia is now facing a crisis due to its declining birth rates.

Ex-British commander Colonel Tim Collins told the UK Defence Review podcast last year that "Russia is dying" due to its "collapsing birth rate." In a move that might indicate Putin is getting nervous about the looming crisis, Rosstat said it would not publish monthly data about births and deaths in the country.

Demographer Alexei Raksa previously said: "We consider the full suppression of regional demographic statistics a clear sign of failed demographic policy at the regional level."

Russia's imperialist ambitions have taken centre stage in the country and has now started to threaten another neighbour just three years since the invasion of Ukraine. Putin has now set his sights on Zerbaikan, and has been building up its troop levels at a military base close to its ally.

The country was formerly a part of the Soviet Union and gained its independence in 1991, alongside many other satellite states.