Belarusian birth rate hits historic low amidst data blackout
Since 2020, the regime in Belarus has not published data on the number of births and deaths. However, independent organisations have accessed data from the Ministry of Health. These data indicate that the birth rate is comparable to that of Ukraine, which has been at war for three years.
The independent portal Zerkalo and the BELPOL organisation (comprising former Belarusian military officers who joined the opposition) have obtained the latest confidential data from the Ministry of Health.
The disclosed document from the Belarusian Ministry of Health shows that the birth rate in the country continues to decline, a trend that began several years ago. According to the document, in 2023, 64,605 children were born in the country, and in 2024, only 58,993 (which is 8.7 percent less). This is the lowest birth rate in the history of Belarus since these statistics have been kept (since 1950, when Belarus was part of the USSR) - reports Belsat TV.
According to the document, the last update of official BelStat data on births and deaths was published in May 2020, shortly before the presidential election fraud, mass protests, and increased repression in the country. Afterwards, many statistics ceased to be published, not only demographic ones.
According to UN statistics, in mid-2020, the mortality rate in Belarus hit a five-year record in the first half of the year - 66,900 deaths, whereas in the previous four years, this number did not exceed 62,500 deaths. The same data showed that in June 2020, the number of deaths in Belarus exceeded the number recorded in the same month of 2019 by 3,753 cases - it reads.
Lukashenko: Peace and traditional values prevail
Belsat notes that the disclosed data shows that the birth rate in Belarus per 1,000 residents is currently at roughly the same level as the birth rate in Ukraine during the war.
Meanwhile, dictator Alexander Lukashenko boasts that thanks to him, peace, "traditional values," and the country's and society's development prevail in Belarus.
