Russia’s Khabarovsk region has introduced a programme offering financial incentives for young women in higher education to have children, aiming to counter the nation’s population decline.

The programme follows Russia’s record-low fertility rate of 1.4 children per woman, which officials at both regional and national levels view as a critical issue. The low birth rate has been compounded by increased mortality rates, initially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then by casualties from the Ukraine invasion.

Approved by the regional legislative assembly, the initiative will provide a one-time payment of RUB100,000 ($1,026) to full-time university and college students who give birth between the ages of 18 and 23. A budget of RUB40mn has been allocated for the programme in 2025. Officials expect the measure to support student mothers and address declining local birth rates, contributing to the wider national effort to mitigate Russia’s demographic challenges.

Deputy Minister of Social Protection for Khabarovsk, Natalya Nelyubina, attributed the region’s declining birth rate to shifting social norms, including delayed parenthood and a higher average age for first-time mothers. Statistics show a decline in births in Khabarovsk, with 309 fewer births recorded from January to August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

In supporting the initiative, lawmakers argued that the programme could help young mothers build stable family foundations and avoid financial hardship. They noted that the policy applies to both university and professional college students, aiming to make motherhood a more accessible option for students with limited resources. Similar programmes have emerged across Russia, with various regions now providing financial support to young mothers.

This programme also aligns with the Russian government’s recent measures to curb the growing “child-free” movement among younger Russians, as the Kremlin prioritises policies it believes will preserve Russia’s long-term social and economic stability.