Russia asserted a population of approximately 150 million individuals.

Russia's Population Dilemma: More than Meets the Eye

The population of Russia, incorporating the new territories, stands at roughly 150 million people, as per a statement made by Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview for the documentary film "Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 years."

By his own admission, "With our territory, 150 million, now we need to count, of course, with the new territories, it will probably be 150 million... In reality. What is that for a mighty power with such history and, let's say, with good and healthy ambitions? And 150 million," Vladimir emphasized, underscoring the crucial role that demographics play in shaping the nation's future.

During the same discourse, he also hinted at a shortage in population numbers, with even 150 million people being insufficient for Russia. He further expressed concerns that these parameters could be challenging for the administration to maintain.

Contrasting Putin's statements, figures from Rosstat show that as of January 1, 2025, the country had 146.028 million residents. The new regions were not included in the count.

In a rare public display of his personal life, Putin invited journalists to his apartment situated near his workplace in the Kremlin on May 1.

Previously, he labeled the hurdles confronting Russia as catalysts for advancement.

Now, let's delve deeper into the population projections and their repercussions for Russia:

Current Population Forecasts for Russia

Russia's population projections are impacted by factors like birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns. Recently, the addition of new territories has temporarily boosted the population, but the long-term demographic trends are significantly affected by structural factors like birth rates.

The Consequences for the Country's Future

The demographic challenges in Russia can have significant implications for various aspects of society and economy:

Economic Preoccupations
A declining and aging population strains the labor market, with fewer working-age individuals able to sustain the ever-growing cohort of retirees.
Inevitably, this creates a burden on the social security system and may lead to shortages in skilled workers.
Social Welfare and Healthcare
Aging populations require increased investment in healthcare and social services, which can result in significant costs for the government.
Ensuring adequate care for the increasing elderly population imposes challenges on healthcare infrastructure and funding.
Migration and Urbanization
Increased migration could potentially offset some demographic challenges, but it also introduces social integration challenges.
Urbanization may continue as younger generations move to cities in pursuit of better economic opportunities, aggravating rural depopulation.

The Broader Economic Context

Economically, Russia faces additional challenges such as sanctions and global economic fluctuations, which can further complicate the demographic situation by affecting economic growth and investment in social services and infrastructure.

In essence, while the incorporation of new regions has added to Russia's population, addressing the long-term demographic challenges necessitates comprehensive strategies to foster higher birth rates, draw in immigration, and manage the economic repercussions of an aging society.

According to current population forecasts, Russia's future population will be largely determined by factors such as birth rates, death rates, migration patterns, and the addition of new territories.
A decline in the population, particularly among the working-age demographic, poses economic concerns for Russia as it may lead to strains on the labor market and social security system, potentially creating shortages in skilled workers.
An aging population also requires increased investment in healthcare and social services, which can result in significant costs for the government, and poses challenges in terms of ensuring adequate care for the increasing elderly population.
In addition to demographic challenges, Russia's economic future may be further complicated by external factors such as sanctions and global economic fluctuations, which can affect economic growth and investment in social services and infrastructure needed to address demographic issues.