Declining Birth Rate: Russia Announces Cash Reward for Young Mothers

In an effort to tackle the declining birth rate, Russia has announced financial incentives aimed at encouraging young women to have children. According to the scheme, female students under the age of 25 will receive 100,000 rubles (approximately INR 81,000) upon giving birth to healthy children. This initiative targets full-time students enrolled in local universities or colleges who are permanent residents of Karelia, a region in Russia.

The cash reward is available only to mothers of healthy newborns, and it does not apply to women who give birth to stillborn babies. However, the policy lacks clarity regarding cases where a newborn dies unexpectedly after birth or is born with disabilities. Whether additional bonuses or support will be provided to such families remains uncertain, with the government yet to issue a formal statement on these aspects.

Russia's birth rate has seen a steep decline in recent years. In 2024, only 599,600 children were born, marking a decrease of 16,000 births compared to the previous year. This figure represents the lowest birth rate in the past 25 years. Commenting on the crisis, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the situation as "a serious threat to the country’s future." It is in response to these alarming statistics that the government has introduced the incentive scheme.