Female to male sex ratio in Russia in 2020, by age group

As of 2020, the number of women exceeded that of men in Russia in all age categories above 35 years old. The lowest female to male ratio was recorded among Russians between 15 and 19 years old, measuring at 956 women per one thousand men. Within the category aged 70 years and older, the number of females was approximately 2.3 times higher than the one of males.

Fertility rate in Russia

According to the United Nations' report World Population Prospects 2019, Russia could have less than 84 million population by 2100. The fertility rate increased in recent years due to numerous programs implemented by the government to encourage births, such as maternal capital benefits. However, the birth rate could decrease again in the 2030s due to a decline in births in the early 1990s, with fewer Russian women entering reproductive age.

Maternal capital benefits in Russia

Launched in 2007, the maternal capital program by the Russian state announced that a woman, or in particular cases, a man receiving a second child would receive a bonus from the government, that they could decide to spend on mortgage, pension of the parent, or education of a child. When the program was introduced in 2007, its main aim was framed by Russia’s president Vladimir Putin as a way of resolving our most vital problem – the demographic one.”

While addressing the Federal Assembly on January 15, 2020, not only did Putin propose a constitutional reform, but also an array of social governmental programs, including an expansion of the maternal capital program. It was slated for extension until 2026, with a subsidy per family receiving a second child increasing to 616,617 Russian rubles, and that amount was to be indexed annually. Furthermore, the program also applied to mothers receiving their first child since 2020.