Draft Demographic Development Strategy of Ukraine until 2040 

Decision-maker: the Ministry of Social Policy 

Status: public discussion is in progress until June 1, 2024 

Who is affected: all residents of Ukraine, migrants, and diaspora 

Summary: 

  • the Strategy defines demographic challenges for Ukraine as well as goals and tasks to address them. Main threats: 
    • rapid population decrease due to mortality exceeding birth rates, large-scale labor migration, annexation of Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, and the large-scale invasion by the Russian Federation 
    • low birth rate 
    • worsening health of the population 
    • increase in the number of people with disabilities 
    • high level of premature mortality 
    • forced mass emigration of the population 
    • illegal transfer of Ukrainian citizens abroad 
    • demographic aging 
    • large-scale internal displacement of the population 
  • goal 1: to facilitate conditions to increase birth rates by: 
    • creating an environment friendly to families with children 
    • facilitating the financial independence of families 
    • creating favorable conditions for balancing parenthood and work 
    • providing comprehensive support for families with children, which includes both financial incentives and various forms of social support (kindergartens, nannies, etc.) 
    • creating opportunities for all children to be raised in biological families and, if that is not possible, in foster families 
  • goal 2: to reduce the level of premature mortality, which requires: 
    • minimization of behavioral mortality factors and encouragement of healthy habits (healthy eating habits, regular medical check-ups, responsible actions during air raid alerts, proper usage of seat belts in vehicles, etc.) 
    • improvement of the overall health condition of citizens (disabilities prevention, prevention of cardiovascular diseases and injuries at work, elimination of external death risk factors) 
    • better availability and quality of medical care, adaptation of the healthcare facilities network to the specific needs of the population (especially considering wartime challenges) 
    • adaptation of medical and social services to the significant increase in the number of people with disabilities that will also take into account their distribution across Ukraine 
    • preservation of human dignity and high quality of life during illness and treatment, particularly prevention of rapid income loss during prolonged treatment 
  • goal 3: to ensure population growth through migration by: 
    • repatriation of those who left Ukraine both before and after the full-scale invasion by Russia 
    • engagement of the Ukrainians abroad (members of the Ukrainian diaspora) 
    • selective engagement of migrants from other countries 
  • goal 4: to ensure optimal population distribution within Ukraine by: 
    • improving the quality of life for displaced persons, facilitating their integration into local territorial communities 
    • developing areas classified as risky to live in (located 10–25 km from the northern and eastern borders) 
  • goal 5: to adapt society to demographic aging and create conditions for active longevity by: 
    • providing support to ensure good health and well-being for the elderly 
    • creating opportunities for self-actualization and active life for senior citizens 
    • promoting social integration of the elderly and facilitating conditions for active social life for all age groups 
  • goal 6: to overcome negative demographic trends by developing opportunities for quality life in Ukraine by: 
    • creating a safe social and ecology-friendly environment 
    • developing tools for citizens to buy their own housing 
    • creating opportunities for economic independence and improving the welfare of citizens 
    • establishing the accessibility and proper quality of infrastructure, a human-friendly environment 
    • ensuring social cohesion in Ukrainian society. 

What is right: the Demographic Development Strategy until 2040 takes into account the complexity of the problem and suggests options to solve them. 

Why this is important: Ukraine suffered from a demographic crisis even before the full-scale invasion, and since February 24, 2022, millions of citizens, primarily women and children, have left the country. Population outflow combined with low birth rates, high mortality, and wartime challenges create unprecedented demographic challenges for the state. An updated demographic strategy is crucial for the survival of Ukrainians as a nation. 

How to help the legislator: proposals and comments concerning the Draft Demographic Development Strategy until 2040 can be sent to the Ministry of Social Policy until June 1, 2024. An option to send them by mail is also available: Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine, 01601, Kyiv, Esplanadna St., 8/10.