Gomel Oblast's population crisis deepens as birth rates collapse by 50%
The population of Gomel Oblast has undergone sharp changes over the past decade. Birth rates have fallen dramatically, while migration and rural decline have added to the region’s challenges. Official figures now show a steep drop in newborns and a worsening natural population decline. In 2017, Gomel Oblast recorded 15,991 newborns. By 2025, that number had plummeted to just 8,350. The total fertility rate also fell from 1.7 to 1.1 in the same period.
The natural population decline worsened significantly. In 2017, the region lost 1.7 people per 1,000 residents. By 2025, that figure had jumped to 6.9 per 1,000. The birth rate for women aged 20–24 across the country also halved, dropping from 80.8 to 40 per 1,000. Migration has further reduced the population. In 2025 alone, the region saw a net loss of 2,218 residents. Rural areas have been hit particularly hard, with a 9% drop in population between 2021 and 2025. Meanwhile, divorce rates remained steady at around 5,000 cases per year. By 2026, the birth rate in Gomel Oblast is expected to reach just 6.3 per 1,000 people. Experts warn that within 10 to 15 years, the workforce will shrink as the smaller generation born in the 2020s enters the job market.
The region now faces a combination of lower birth rates, migration losses, and rural decline. With the workforce set to shrink in the coming years, local authorities will need to address the long-term economic and social impact. The data confirms a rapid demographic shift in Gomel Oblast.
