Law enacted by Vladimir Putin providing increased financial assistance to students who become pregnant.
The Russian government has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to increase fertility rates, support motherhood, and promote large families. The strategy, approved by the Russian government in March 2025, aims to raise the total fertility rate (TFR) and the number of large families in Russia.
According to the strategy, the TFR is expected to increase to 1.6 by 2030 and to 1.8 by 2036. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has set a goal to raise the TFR to 2.1 children per woman within the next five years, a level considered necessary to maintain a stable population. Currently, Russia's fertility rate stands at 1.41 births per woman, significantly below the needed level of 2.05 to sustain population growth.
One of the key measures in the strategy is the provision of financial incentives. In some regions, schoolgirls who become pregnant are paid more than 100,000 roubles (approximately £900 or $1,200) for giving birth and raising their children. This policy, which was introduced in the past few months across ten regions, expands a previous policy that applied only to adult women since March 2025. However, the policy is controversial, with 43% of Russians supporting it and 40% opposing it, citing ethical concerns about encouraging teenage pregnancies.
The strategy also aims to increase the number of large families in Russia to 2.4 million by 2030 and at least 2.7 million by 2036. To achieve this, the Social Fund of Russia will be responsible for the payment of benefits to these future mothers. Premier Mikhail Mishustin stated in late May that funding for these benefits will come from the federal budget.
The amendments to the law on benefits for citizens with children are part of this state policy. The benefits will be extended to future mothers who are studying full-time in universities, colleges, institutions of additional professional education, and scientific organizations. If the amendments are adopted, the average amount of the benefit will exceed 90,200 rubles. Currently, maternity benefits for students and postgraduates range from 9,300 to 23,300 rubles for the entire period.
In addition to financial incentives, Russia is considering a range of measures, including tax incentives and restrictions on abortion, to address declining birth rates and a shrinking population. President Putin views a large population as crucial for national strength, alongside territorial control and military power.
In his address to the Federal Assembly in 2024, Putin emphasized that a large family should become the norm in Russia. In December 2024, he called for the fertility rate to increase "at least to 2.1, and preferably to 2.3." The law on benefits for citizens with children will be updated and will come into effect on September 1, 2025. Approximately 7,000 people are estimated to be affected by these changes annually.
The authorities expect that the number of large families will reach 2.4 million by 2030 and at least 2.7 million by 2036. These changes are part of a broader demographic strategy aimed at creating favorable conditions for families with children and addressing regional demographic challenges. For instance, the region of Udmurtia aims to increase its fertility rate from 1.39 to 1.6 by 2030, reflecting broader efforts to address regional demographic challenges.
In conclusion, the Russian government's strategy to boost fertility rates and support large families involves a range of measures, including financial incentives, tax benefits, and restrictions on abortion. The strategy aims to create a supportive environment for families with children and to address regional demographic challenges, with the ultimate goal of increasing Russia's total fertility rate and population growth.
- The Russian government is considering expanding education-and-self-development benefits for future mothers who are studying in universities, colleges, institutions of additional professional education, and scientific organizations as part of their strategy to promote large families and improve women's health.
- In an effort to increase the total fertility rate, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has emphasized the importance of science for improving health-and-wellness, especially in the field of women's health, as a means to support motherhood.
- As part of their comprehensive demographic strategy, the Russian government aims to create a supportive learning environment for families, providing benefits for citizens with children in various sectors, including education-and-self-development aiming to foster a culture of science, health-and-wellness, and large families.
