Belarusians Ignored Lukashenko's Appeal
- 24.05.2025, 21:08
Why Belarus' demography is worse than its neighbors.
Belstat published data on birth and death rates in Belarus after a multi-year break. According to this official data, about 60 thousand children were born in our country last year. One and a half times less compared to 2019.
About why the demography of Belarus is worse than that of all our neighbors - in the new issue of the program Alexei Mazartov "Optimum" on the YouTube channel "Belarusians and the market".
It is possible, of course, to say that the birth rate is falling everywhere. That all countries, all our neighbors are experiencing serious demographic problems. Indeed, it is falling, and they are indeed worried.
But there is such an indicator as the number of newborns per thousand inhabitants. And in Belarus last year it amounted to 6.5 children per 1000 people. In the European Union last year, only in Italy the birth rate was as low as in Belarus. In all other European countries it was higher. Including our nearest neighbors, about whose plight the Belarusian state media are so fond of telling.
But if the neighboring countries are dying out, they are not dying out as fast as Belarus. Because in Lithuania the birth rate last year amounted to 7.7. In Poland - 6.7.
It is even worse if we compare us with our partners in the Eurasian Union. In Kazakhstan, the birth rate last year was 18 children per 1,000 people. In Armenia, it was 11. And even in Russia, which complains about the catastrophic demographic situation, last year there were more than eight children per 1,000 people.
Of all the Belarusian neighbors, only Ukraine can be compared in favor of Belarus. Last year there were born less than six children per 1000 people. On the one hand, Ukraine, which has been at war for three years, and on the other hand - peaceful, prosperous Belarus. And it is indicative that the birth rates are generally comparable.
The authorities, of course, have a very simple explanation and a very simple recipe. The Belarusian authorities like simple explanations and simple recipes. From the point of view of the authorities, Belarusians are to blame for all demographic problems of Belarusians. From the point of view of the authorities, Belarusians are always to blame for everything.
"There is a way out of this situation. It is necessary to give birth. Three, four, or better five. Don't we do anything for such people? We do. We don't work one in three, we don't want to give birth and we work with slackness," said Lukashenko when he explained his plan to bring 150 thousand Pakistanis into the country.
But I want to draw attention to one curious coincidence. A particularly sharp decline in the birth rate in Belarus began in 2020. That is exactly when mass emigration of Belarusians began. Let me remind you that as of the beginning of this year, at least 600 thousand people left Belarus.
With all the demographic problems that were already there then, the birth rate in 2019 in Belarus was 9.3 per 1,000 people. With the beginning of mass emigration from Belarus, it fell by one and a half times. Because it is mostly people of fertile age who emigrate. Now they help to solve demographic problems not in Belarus, but in neighboring countries.
And instead of empty appeals about the need to give birth more, it would be better if the Belarusian authorities took care to create such conditions, under which, first, people would not leave the country, and secondly, those who left would want to return. But for this purpose the Belarusian authorities need to change their attitude to Belarusians. But they can't do just that. And they don't really want to.