In 2024, births in Russia fell to 1.22 million — the lowest level since 1999 — while deaths increased by 3.3% annually, to 1.82 million.

The Russian economy is set to need 10 million workers by 2030 – a challenge made more daunting as the country's demographic decline accelerates, worsened by the human losses from the war in Ukraine.

Officials have warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that a demographic crisis could mean the country he leads will be short millions of workers by the end of the decade.

Russia is set to spend 6.3% of its GDP on defense this year — a post-Cold War high.

Russia needs to find the equivalent of 2 million workers a year over the next five years to fill vacancies left by people who are due to retire, Labor Minister Anton Kotyakov told President Vladimir Putin at a meeting on Monday.

The continuing labour shortage has pushed up wages and increased inflation, which hit 9.9% earlier this year amid Western economic sanctions.

September 18, 2023: The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 had several negative effects on the Russian economy. One of the less obvious ones is a labor shortage. As Russia mobilized more and more young men, it deprived many manufacturing or maintenance facilities of key staff. Military-age men who ...

Analysis-Russia's Labour Shortage Spreads as Defence Sector Poaches Staff. More. Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A general view of the city skyline at night in Moscow, Russia, September 17, 2024.