Authors

Discussion

The campaign against “childfree propaganda” has emerged as a central element in the Russian state’s pronatalist policy efforts. Russian state media, pro-government activists, and policymakers commonly associate rising childlessness with the spread of childfree ideology. Recently, the State Duma passed a bill in its first reading aimed at restricting so-called “childfree propaganda.” Yet, the patterns and underlying causes of childlessness in Russia reveal a number of distinct characteristics that set them apart from similar trends observed across Europe.

This presentation examines the primary drivers of childlessness among Russian women within the context of demographic trends and social factors, especially in light of developments since February 2022. I will analyze the generational patterns of childlessness rates. For example, according to the most recent census, 9.7 percent of Russian women aged 45–49 are childless—a rate below the European average. Predominant causes of childlessness in Russia include infertility, which affects up to 4 percent of women, as well as personal and marital challenges. Furthermore, data show that only a small portion of Russian women (2.4 percent) actively choose not to have children.

The presentation will further assess the extent to which scientific and demographic evidence is disregarded in policy decisions and examine who, through what arguments, currently influences the government to adopt pronatalist restrictions on childfree ideology.

This study draws on data from recent Russian population censuses, Rosstat statistics, the Human Fertility Database, and several sociological surveys, including Reproductive Intentions of Russians and Parents and Children, Men and Women in Family and Society. Special attention is also given to regional variations in childlessness rates and challenges in data reliability across different Russian regions.