The population of Ukraine has significantly decreased by over 10 million since the onset of the war in February 2022, according to the United Nations. The UN Population Fund highlighted the sharp decline in population in war-torn Ukraine. Factors such as the exodus of people and plummeting birth rates have contributed to this decline.
Before the conflict, Ukraine already had one of the lowest birth rates in Europe, with many young individuals leaving the country in search of better opportunities. Since the war began, approximately 6.7 million individuals have become refugees, and the birth rate has dropped to around one child per woman, well below the replacement rate needed to sustain the population. Additionally, the conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, further impacting the population dynamics.
These significant changes in population size and demographics have created challenges for Ukraine’s future.