Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko said in an interview published Tuesday that Russians need to rethink their attitudes toward early parenthood, reframing it as the “norm” amid government attempts to reverse the country’s population decline.
“I believe the most important challenge when it comes to demographics is changing our mindset,” Matviyenk told the pro-Kremlin tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets. “A successful person should be seen as someone who has a good, close-knit, large and strong family.”
“Having children should be considered fashionable. It should be the norm to have children as soon as possible after reaching adulthood, not at 28 or 29 as is common now,” the Federation Council speaker added.
Russia is currently facing a falling birth rate, natural population decline and rising male mortality. In 2024, 1.22 million people were born in Russia, only slightly more than the record low of 1.21 million in 1999.
Authorities have implemented various measures to address the demographic crisis, including boosting state financial support for child-rearing, introducing restrictions on abortion and promoting so-called “traditional values” among young people. Despite these policies, the trend of decline has shown no sign of reversing.
Since July, Matviyenko has overseen a so-called “demographic special forces unit,” a group of officials tasked with developing initiatives to address the issue of falling birth rates.
Matviyenko admitted in the Moskovsky Komsomolets interview that there are limits to the financial incentives the government can provide to have children. In her view, officials must take a more holistic approach that includes “systematic efforts to cultivate and reinforce traditional values and proper moral and spiritual guidelines.”
“Without this, it simply won’t work,” she said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
