Part 2/13:
At the heart of Russia’s troubles lies a severe demographic crisis that has been decades in the making. The country is witnessing some of its lowest birth rates in over two centuries, with recent figures revealing alarming trends. In 2024, Russia recorded approximately 1.22 million births—the lowest number since the chaos of 1999—and early 2025 data suggests the trend is worsening. The first quarter of this year saw roughly 294,000 births, marking a historic low, with February 2025 registering the worst month for births in modern history.