The Kremlin intensifies reproductive surveillance as the demographic crisis reaches historic lows.
Starting this March, the Russian Federation will implement a mandatory national register to track pregnant women. Official sources claim the database aims to "monitor the demographic situation" across the country.
The centralized system will archive comprehensive medical data, including prenatal check-ups, assisted reproductive technology usage, and pregnancy outcomes. According to TASS and DW, the registry also tracks the health status of newborns and specific delivery locations.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova first proposed the initiative in October 2025. This move comes as the Kremlin struggles with a deepening labor and population crisis exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Official Rosstat data reveals a grim demographic landscape. In the first quarter of 2025, only 288,800 children were born—a 4% drop from the previous year.
The overall 2024 birth rate hit its lowest point since 1999. Meanwhile, Russia’s natural population decline has accelerated, with the gap between deaths and births widening to nearly 600,000.
In response to these failing metrics, Russian authorities classified all official birth and population statistics in July 2025. This registry marks the latest attempt to manage the crisis through state-led digital oversight.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
