Belarus' Birth Rate Plummets, Sparking Demographic Crisis
Belarus is grappling with a significant demographic challenge. The birth rate has plummeted by nearly half in eight years, raising alarm bells about a serious population decline. Despite this, the number of large families has grown, reaching over 120,000 by 2025.
In 2019, Belarus had around 1,143,000 families with minor children, with about 105,700 of them being large families. The capital, Minsk, and the Brest region saw the most births in the last year. However, the Grodno, Vitebsk, and Mogilev regions recorded the fewest newborns. The country has witnessed a sharp drop in birth rates over recent years. In 2016, 117,779 children were born, a figure that had fallen to 58,938 by 2024. Despite this decline, the number of large families has increased by 13.5% over the past six years.
Belarus faces a demographic crisis with a significant drop in birth rates. While the number of large families has grown, the overall population decline is a cause for concern. Efforts to reverse this trend are crucial for the country's future.
