"Scary figure". Ukraine may lose 10 million people due to war – demographer Libanova

Ukraine may lose up to 10 million people as a result of the war, including those who have moved abroad. This was stated by Ella Libanova, Director of the Ptukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences, in an interview with "RBC-Ukraine.

"When I try to estimate Ukraine's losses as a result of the war, I come up with a frightening figure of 10 million people. This is the "demographic gap". It is worth noting that I include here not only all irreversible losses, but also the number of those who emigrated. I may have overestimated it and more will return, but something tells me not," she said.

Libanova clarified that this figure also includes additional mortality and children not born because of the war, as well as the impact of emigration and the Russian occupation. In particular, according to the researcher, it is not yet fully understood how the war will affect future demographics. It will be possible to find out by conducting a census after the war.

"Can all this be fixed? I don't believe in a baby boom after the war, it won't happen. At least not like it was after World War II. First, children were an economic expedient back then. Secondly, the cost of childcare and upbringing then cannot be compared to today's needs. Thirdly, there were different requirements for the level and quality of life back then," she added.

• In 2024, in Ukraine 176,700 children were bornwhile 495,090 people died.