Ukraine’s statistics service revealed scary numbers of the country’s demographic disaster. In January-July 2017 the number of deaths in the country exceeds live births by 62%. In other words, there are 162 funerals for every 100 newborns. It is the worst case of depopulation among the countries of the former Soviet Union.
Demographics downspiral
Country-wide, this means that for the first 7 months of 2017, the population of Ukraine declined naturally by 131 thousand people, facts by Ukrstat show.
Natural population movement (January-July 2017):
- Births: 209,433
- Deaths: 340,699
- Decline: 131,266
Dnipropetrovsk (Dnipro), Donetsk and Kharkiv showed the worst absolute numbers.
In the city of Kyiv, however, there is a positive dynamics of more newborns.
But this is the only destination in the country with such an encouraging outlook on demographics. The rest of federal subjects all recorded negative growth in population.
Even Lviv in the western part of the country has shown negative dynamics with 31% more mortalities than births.
Depopulation is one of the most pressing problems of today’s Ukraine. In the situation of uncertainly, people hesitate to start families or have more kids. The continuous conflict in the East and slow improvements in the economic situation, including low salaries of only US$270 per month, don’t give much confidence to prospective moms and dads.
What is different in the capital city of Kyiv as compared to other localities? Even in Kyiv region the numbers are negative. Wages in the capital are also much higher. This may be the actual reason: People simply cannot afford to have kids.
Read also:
- Ukraine dropped 3 ranks in Human Development Index 2016, Russia climbed 1 rank
- Population of Ukraine: 2017 data by Ukrstat
- How many retirees are in Ukraine? Why so few Ukrainian men live to retirement
- Wages and salaries in Ukraine: July 2017 data by Ukrstat
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It is no wonder that such a situation takes place in Ukraine! I am definitely sure that it will get worse in a few years. The main reason of it is a policy of nowaday’s government. Verkhovna Rada voted for reforms (medical and pension) that are barbaric and will bring Ukrainians into disastrous situations such as increasing level of emigration and mortality rate.
I think that one of the reasons of Ukraine’s demographics disaster is the poor state of health care in the country. The country has no money for drugs, vaccines against various diseases and free medicine. People also don’t have money to pay for treatment. As a result, the amount of deaths increases.