CNN: Ukraine becoming a country of widows and orphans
According to demographers, Ukraine is facing one of the gravest population crises in its history. Since the start of the war with Russia, the country has lost around ten million people – some have died, millions have left and others remain in occupied territories.
The birth rate has fallen to below one child per woman, far beneath the level required for natural population replacement.
As CNN reports, demographer Ella Libanova has described the situation as a disaster, noting that even before the war population density was low and unevenly distributed. The trend has since intensified.
Experts also report growing fertility problems. Reproductive clinics are seeing more complications, a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and cases of premature menopause. Doctors say stress and poor living conditions are adversely affecting sperm quality among men returning from the front.
Demographers warn that the longer the war continues, the less likely it becomes that millions of refugees will return – a development that could significantly hamper the country’s recovery.
(pir)