Russian Government adopts national demographic strategy up to 2036
The Russian Government adopts a national demographic strategy up to 2036
26.03.2025
Article published on Izvestia’s iz.ru website
The Government has approved a strategy that will inform the country’s family and demographic policy up until 2036, including measures aimed at increasing the birth rate and improving the health of the population. Experts believe the strategy is an important step towards enhancing the nation’s demographic situation. However, a lack of resources, regional differences and bureaucratic barriers could reduce its effectiveness.
The strategy for implementing a family and demographic policy and support for large families was signed off by Russia’s Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin.
The objectives of the strategy are to maintain the country’s population by increasing the birth rate, improving citizens’ health and supporting families as the bedrock of Russian society through traditional family values.
The document contains specific measures aimed at achieving the strategy’s objectives. In particular, a wide-ranging programme aims to enhance family health and increase the birth rate, with special emphasis on reproductive health issues. To this end, the authorities will expand the network of women’s clinics and upgrade perinatal centres. There are also plans to further develop screening programmes for pregnant women and children.
A comprehensive approach
An effective demographic policy has become a priority for the State. The strategy adopted by the Government is a major step towards improving the situation in the country, said Saniyam Koval, a member of the Commission of the General Council of the United Russian Party on the Protection of Motherhood, Childhood and Family Support.
The proposed set of measures to support families with children is part of a holistic programme that has a broad focus, said Olga Zolotareva, a Candidate of Economic Sciences and Director of the Centre for Demography and Statistics at the Institute of Economic Strategies. Financial support for families with large households, improvement in medical services and promoting family values can all play a significant role in increasing the birth rate, said Koval.
The availability of mortgages for families with children, help with breastfeeding and post-natal recovery are also important steps, said Nadezhda Kapustina, Professor at the Department of Economic Security and Risk Management at the Russian Government’s Financial University.
Help with raising a family as well as achieving professional fulfilment would also be beneficial, said Zolotareva. Experience from other countries shows that creating the right conditions which combine family life with having a career does stimulate the birth rate, said Kapustina. Tools such as flexible working hours for parents and access to pre-school institutions should be the norm throughout Russia, not just in large cities.
The strategy will help in resolving Russia’s demographic problems but should not be seen as a panacea to cure all ills, warns Dmitry Zhuravlev, Research Director at the Institute of Regional Affairs. Its implementation will inevitably face some difficulties such as resource provision, admits Koval.
Effective implementation of family support programmes will require significant financial investment, which could be a problem if budgets are tight. Regional differences will also be a factor, the expert said. Birth rates vary according to geographical area, which requires a flexible approach across the country.
Problems may also arise when it comes to changing public attitudes. Promoting traditional family values may meet with some resistance among young people who are focused on individualism and a career, Saniyam Koval predicts.
There are several other ways for expanding the toolkit of demographic policy in Russia, said Kapustina. For example, tax incentives for companies that provide a positive environment for working parents could encourage businesses to invest in the social sector. And an increase in affordable rental accommodation would also solve the problem of young families getting a foot on the housing ladder.
