After the large-scale war that began with Russia in 2022, Ukraine's population has significantly decreased. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
By mid-2024, the population in the territories controlled by Kyiv dropped from 40 million to 31.1 million. In other words, in just two and a half years, the country's population decreased by approximately 10 million people.
These figures represent a major change considering that since Ukraine declared independence in the 1990s, the population had exceeded 50 million. Experts see the main reason for the population decline as hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians leaving the country due to the war.
Currently, more than 5 million citizens are living temporarily or permanently mainly in European countries such as Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Spain. Although some migrants wish to return home each year, the number of men of conscription age is sharply decreasing.
Officials are trying to encourage returns by providing jobs, housing, and preferential programs. However, millions of Ukrainians continue to build new lives in other countries.
The population decline is most noticeable in areas close to the front lines. Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv regions have lost a large portion of their population, and mostly elderly people remain in cities and villages near the battle lines.
Due to the war, constant stress, and weakened medical services, mortality rates have also increased. In 2023, approximately 495,000 deaths were recorded, which is one-third more than the pre-war period and three times higher than the birth rate.
This year, the fewest children in the country's history were born — 180,000. Population aging is also evident, with children under 18 making up 15 percent and those aged 60 and over accounting for 27 percent.
In 2024, the government approved a demographic development strategy until 2040 and a plan for 2024-2027. However, payments for births are losing value due to inflation, and infrastructure projects are progressing slowly.
According to data, if current trends continue, by 2041 Ukraine's population may decrease by another 10 million, reaching approximately 29 million. Population growth will only be ensured after the war ends, migrants return home, birth rates increase, and decent living conditions are established in the country.
