On June 1st, the city of Odesa hosted the inaugural Demographic Forum “Family. Security. Future”, initiated by the deputy group “For Spirituality, Morality and Health of Odesa Region” in cooperation with the Ukraine Rebuilding Alliance, the Ukrainian Recovery Movement, and with the participation of experts, civic leaders, educators, religious figures, and representatives of local institutions.
The forum aimed to spark an honest conversation about one of Ukraine’s deepest yet least publicly addressed crises — the demographic collapse.
This event became the first large-scale platform in Ukraine where demography was discussed not only as a sociological or humanitarian issue but as a strategic threat to national security and post-war recovery.
Amid full-scale war, Ukraine is rapidly losing its human capital. As of 2024, the birth rate has plummeted to a record low — 0.7 children per woman. To ensure simple population replacement, a rate of at least 2.1–2.3 is required. Ukraine has hit a global anti-record: lowest birth rate in the world, one of the highest mortality rates, over 8 million refugees, tens of thousands killed, hundreds of thousands wounded, and millions psychologically, physically, and economically affected by war.
Youth is the most vulnerable demographic, growing up in an environment of instability and social depression. This is a process of gradual national exhaustion, making any form of recovery nearly impossible without clear and decisive state policy.
“The forum’s key resolution emphasized that improving birth rates, protecting family values, and creating conditions for the return of Ukrainians should become one of the highest national priorities — something that unfortunately still lacks proper attention at the state level,” said Veniamin Unguryan, deputy of the Odesa Regional Council and Deputy Head of the Ukraine Rebuilding Alliance.
Odesa Region, as a key area, has specific features: multiethnic composition, high urbanization, a significant decline in rural population, and high demographic pressure. While the regional birth rate is slightly above the national average, it still fails to offset mortality, especially in rural areas.
International speakers from North Macedonia and the United States stressed the importance of comprehensive, integrated approaches. Macedonia, for instance, successfully implemented national family support campaigns from 2006 to 2016. U.S. representatives emphasized that demographic policy must be integrated into economic strategy. Regardless of family-support programs, economic stability remains the decisive factor: access to housing, jobs, quality healthcare, and education — these are the foundations for decisions to have children.
“If we do not act now, we risk losing not only people but also the very possibility of recovery. Demography is not statistics — it’s the politics of the future,” said Vlatko Gjorgjiev, Member of Parliament of North Macedonia and EU demography expert.
Forum participants unanimously supported a formal Appeal from the Odesa Regional Council to the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, calling for:
- recognition of the demographic crisis as a priority national threat,
- creation of a Ministry of Family Affairs,
- development of a comprehensive national policy to support birth rates, young families, motherhood and fatherhood,
- and local programs for psychological, medical, and social support.
Human capital is the driving force of any recovery. In a modern world where creativity, knowledge, cooperation, and emotional resilience form the core of competitiveness, the state cannot afford to lose its future generations. The absence of effective demographic solutions equals a lost future — recognizing the issue is the first step toward saving it.
Ukraine needs an honest, professional dialogue to find a way out of the demographic crisis, which may escalate into a national catastrophe. Now is the time to set aside political divisions and focus on rebuilding a country where people want to be born, grow up, and stay.
