Coupled with the decision to invade Ukraine, this statistic could prove catastrophic for Putin and the Russians.
Demographic decline
The Russian president's decision to invade Ukraine seems to be particularly costly for his country, at a time when demographic decline has reached a critical level not seen for 200 years.
The first few months
What's more, according to The Atlantic, the first few months of 2025 will see the lowest birth rates in Russia.
Thousands of young soldiers sacrificed
Already facing demographic decline before the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia is now paying an even higher price with thousands of young soldiers dead at the front, sacrificed by the decisions of their president.
Putin's choices
Faced with Ukrainian resistance, Putin's choices are proving catastrophic for his population, accelerating the demographic decline he had hoped to halt.
Half a million
Again according to The Atlantic, by 2024, Russia have recorded an excess of deaths over births of more than half a million people.
Putting pressure on women
Putin is also said to have introduced a series of measures to put pressure on women, especially young women, to have at least three children!
Advertising campaigns
These include advertising campaigns directly appealing to women and underlining that they are not yet pregnant, interventions by the Ministry of Education to promote romantic relationships at school, and incentives to have children at a very young age.