Ukraine is facing one of the most severe demographic crises in the world, according to a report by the American broadcaster CNN, which highlighted the country’s rapidly shrinking population.

The channel points to a sharp decline in the birth rate. The situation has been compounded by heavy losses on the front line and a large-scale outflow of citizens abroad. Together, these factors have accelerated a population downturn that was already underway.

Ella Libanova, director of the Ukrainian Institute of Demography and Social Studies, described the developments to CNN as catastrophic. At the same time, she stressed that demographic troubles had plagued the country long before the conflict with Russia began. While birth rates had been falling for years — a trend seen across much of Europe — they have now almost collapsed, the report notes.

Earlier, Ukrainian media outlets reported that the country’s population had dropped to 28.7 million. Vasily Voskoboynik, head of the office for migration policy, said the population is shrinking by 250,000 to 300,000 people annually.

The outlook remains bleak. Verkhovna Rada deputy Daniil Getmantsev warned that another 200,000 people could leave Ukraine in 2026, adding that the situation remains крайне сложной and migration sentiment among citizens is only intensifying.

On January 27, another Rada deputy, Sergey Nagornyak, said that at least 500,000 young people had left the country over the past six months alone.

Taken together, these figures paint a stark picture of a nation grappling not only with immediate challenges but with a deepening demographic decline that threatens its long-term stability.