What is wrong with the CIA's assessment of birth rates in Ukraine? What currently has the greatest impact on the demographic situation in Ukraine? What are the chances of immigration to Ukraine after the war? The director of the Institute of Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Ella Libanova answered these and other questions in an interview with the online publication "Ukrainian Pravda".
This year, one of the CIA reports published that Ukraine currently has the highest mortality rate and the lowest birth rate in the world. These indicators cause serious concern, however, Ella Marlenivna stated that the situation is not as critical as it seems at first glance. The birth rate situation is most likely true according to CIA data, but there are questions regarding the high mortality rate. The scientist clarified: "As for mortality, the overall coefficient was used here: the number of deaths relative to the total population. Our mortality is definitely not the highest in the world. Absolutely definitely! The best indicator that illustrates mortality and does not depend on the peculiarities of age and sex structure is the average life expectancy. With that, our situation is certainly better than, say, in Africa or most Asian countries."
Regarding the issue of population migration from Ukraine, the scientist believes this is the biggest demographic problem for our country, even greater than the decline in birth rates and mortality. A significant number of people are leaving abroad, although the scientist noted that the migration boom ended in April 2022 and currently far fewer people are emigrating. However, on the other hand, there is the problem of whether Ukrainian migrants will return to their homeland. Currently, mainly those who had a high social status in Ukraine and have somewhere to return to are coming back, while other categories of the population are returning in smaller numbers.
Ella Marlenivna also addressed the issue of immigration of foreigners to Ukraine after the war. The scientist assured that the influx of immigrants to our country will only occur if active reconstruction of the country and a post-war economic boom begin after the war. Regarding the integration of immigrants into Ukrainian society, she stated: "We must give them the opportunity to develop in their cultural environment, but at the same time, we must teach them our values and our way of life. And this is very complicated and very difficult. This is a problem for the authorities because they must teach them the Ukrainian language, open schools for them, and resettle them. I hope everyone already understands that immigrants must not be settled compactly under any circumstances, just like internally displaced persons. They must be resettled so that they mix with the permanent population. Otherwise, nothing good will come of it."
Learn more from the published interview