How deep is Russia's demographic hole?
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How deep is Russia's demographic hole?
Deep enough for the Kremlin to warn of "problems of an insurmountable nature"
Russia recorded its fifth straight year of population decline in 2022. The country ended the year with 600,000 fewer people.
In 2021, at the height of the “pandemic”, Russia suffered a natural population of decline (when deaths exceed births) of over 1 million people—a record loss of life not seen since the Great Patriotic War.
The death rate has returned to its “normal level”, but there is little cause for celebration: The main driver behind Russia’s natural population decline is a record-low birth rate.
Nakanune.ru wrote on May 15:
In 2022, the death rate exceeded the birth rate by 600,000 people, and it will only get worse. Russia is steadily moving towards a “natural” loss of 1 million people annually.
The disappearance of the population at such a pace puts an end not only to any development of the country, but also threatens the very existence of the Russian state.
Why, with all the statements of the authorities about supporting the birth rate, it only falls—with no end in sight?
The death rate in Russia has already returned to its previous level—1.8 million people per year. But the birth rate, which in the mid-2010s reached 1.9 million, literally collapsed in a span of a few years—this year we can expect only 1.2 million births. That is, the reason for the new addition to demographic hole is a strong drop in the birth rate, and not mortality. […]
One of the reasons [for the demographic crisis] is infertility, the scale of which is only growing in Russia, which is again confirmed by statistics. About 15% of Russian couples are infertile. […]
However, the birth rate is still of no interest to the authorities. Just words—no deeds. Back in winter, it was said the authorities were developing some new measures to stimulate the birth rate. To do this, some surveys were conducted and various questions were studied.
In December, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said that until April 15, the regions would receive targeted recommendations to increase the birth rate.
Is that all the Government can do? Recommendations?
A prophetic article, because just a few days later the Kremlin offered some less-than-reassuring words about the worsening crisis.
Speaking to reporters on May 19, Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged ongoing “difficulties” with sustaining Russia’s population:
“Yes, indeed, demographics is where we are not yet successful. And for well-known and understandable reasons, we are now in a very difficult situation in terms of demographics,” Peskov said.
According to him, there is no “panacea or magic pill” in this matter. At the same time, there are problems of an insurmountable nature here—demographic holes that have haunted Russia throughout history.
What are these “well-known and understandable reasons” for Russia’s plunging population? Peskov explained:
“This demographic hole is associated with the Great Patriotic War, and with the nineties, when the country was collapsing and the birth rate fell … Now we are in the decade when these holes have connected, and this is our historical tail that haunts us,” he said.
No mention of the devastating consequences of neoliberal “healthcare optimization” (first carried out under the fearless leadership of a Bill Gates groupie), or the murderous decision to suspend routine medical care in order to “flatten the curve”.
No, the problem is that “two holes have connected” (source: Dmitry Peskov).
It’s the same feckless word salad every year. In 2017, Peskov pointed to “objective reasons” for Russia’s demographic troubles, but reassured everyone that the government was brainstorming a solution.
And the situation was actually better in 2017.
An incredible game of kick-the-can, with predictable results. Naturally, one has to ask what the endgame is.
Questions, questions…
How deep is Russia's demographic hole?
"One of the reasons for the demographic crisis is infertility, the scale of which is only growing in Russia, which is again confirmed by statistics. About 15% of Russian couples are infertile..."
A problem which is occuring throughout Western societies and parts of Asia.
Here's some interesting info regarding fertility:
"9 of 10 countries with the highest total fertility rate are in Africa followed by Afghanistan.
Southern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Eastern Asia have the lowest fertility rates in the world..."
One has to wonder, why are the more "underdeveloped" countries so fertile and conversely why are the so-called modern, or industrialized nations so infertile.
Perhaps, it has something to with being overly exposed to insidious chemicals and dubious pharmaceutical products all more prevalent in developed countries, hence over time resulting in various types of infertility for both males and females.
What I can say, is that the "fertility industry" is a huge business in the US requiring the outlay of many thousands of dollars for those who desperately want to be parents. Especially, if the procedure required is invitro fertilization (IVF).
An expense "not" covered by health insurance companies. And ironically, not covered by the military who'll pay for transgender modification surgery, but "not" for fertility treatments for biologically female soldiers who are infertile, go figure.
One also has to wonder, whether the "clot shot" mandated during the scamdemic for healthy childbearing age women will compound the infertility problem.
And if it is poisonous chemicals and pharmaceuticals that's responsible for infertility, one could also cynically reach the conclusion that's there's been a decades long "deliberate"
targeted attempt to depopulate specific indigenous populations.
That being said,
I personally believe chemicals and pharmaceutical products have slaughtered more people than bombs, bullets, or drones.
If the Russian government had a long term perspective and just a smidgen of ability to think outside the box, it would create an attractive and streamlined immigration program to attract immigration from the West. Russia could literally garner millions of skilled immigrants if the government made some real concessions, for example by creating a few bilingual zones: say, one German-Russian zone, one English-Russian zone and one French-Russian zone.