{"id":15565,"date":"2025-02-13T12:16:41","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T12:16:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/?p=15565"},"modified":"2025-02-17T15:58:18","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T15:58:18","slug":"belarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/02\/belarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Belarus&#8217; Birth Rate: Pronatalist Policies and Demographic Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull curved-bottom\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#6681a9\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-15569\" alt=\"Minsk, Belarus\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\"><h1 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-post-title\">Belarus&#8217; Birth Rate: Pronatalist Policies and Demographic Challenges<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-13T12:16:41+00:00\">13 February 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead\">Part of our <a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/gilead-watch-protect-womens-rights-from-pronatal-politicians\/\">Gilead Watch series<\/a>, this blog examines the demographic challenges in Belarus where President Alexander Lukashenko last month secured a seventh term in an election <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cdjdzyzxd97o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">widely dismissed<\/a> as neither free nor fair. It explores the government&#8217;s emphasis on increasing birth rates, the country\u2019s declining fertility trends and the implications of these policies for women\u2019s autonomy, all within the context of Belarus&#8217; birth rate trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since gaining independence in 1991, Belarus has faced significant demographic challenges, with a steady decline in birth rates and an ageing, decreasing population. This demographic shift has been compounded by economic instability and increasing emigration, particularly among younger generations seeking opportunities abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite efforts by the government to encourage higher birth rates, these trends reflect broader regional challenges shared by many post-Soviet states, highlighting the need for policy reform to address the population&#8217;s evolving needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 2025 Election and the Future of Family Policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 presidential election in Belarus, held on 26 January and described as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cdjdzyzxd97o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&#8216;sham&#8217;<\/a>, was significant for the future of demographic policies and women&#8217;s reproductive rights in the country. Reproductive rights include the ability to access contraception and safe abortion services, ensuring people can make informed choices about their reproductive health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-sk7P8A8Revg-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Chalk on the street, Minsk, Belarus\" class=\"wp-image-15568\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-sk7P8A8Revg-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-sk7P8A8Revg-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-sk7P8A8Revg-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-sk7P8A8Revg-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-sk7P8A8Revg-unsplash-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Chalk on the street in Minsk, Belarus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>President Alexander Lukashenko has a long-standing grip on power, winning every election since 1994. Given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/europe\/lukashenko-pockets-massive-win-belarus-election-scorned-by-west-2025-01-27\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">highly controlled political environment<\/a> and Lukashenko&#8217;s unchallenged authority, his vision for Belarus continues to shape the country&#8217;s approach to demographic issues and the reproductive rights of its people. Rather than focusing on the complex realities of population decline and ageing, Lukashenko\u2019s government remains fixated on policies that push for larger families, sometimes at the expense of individual rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lukashenko&#8217;s Pronouncements on Birth Rates and Family Policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In recent years, President Lukashenko has often emphasised the need for higher birth rates to ensure the country&#8217;s future. In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osw.waw.pl\/en\/publikacje\/osw-commentary\/2023-10-17\/a-depopulating-country-belaruss-demographic-situation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">speech in July 2023<\/a>, he urged women to &#8220;give birth to three children each, because we need people.&#8221; Like many other European leaders, he believes increasing the population is crucial to the nation&#8217;s stability and growth. He has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.belarus.by\/en\/press-center\/news\/lukashenko-presents-state-awards-generals-shoulder-straps-to-distinguished-belarusians_i_153823.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">previously framed motherhood<\/a> as the &#8220;highest purpose and meaning of life,&#8221; echoing a similar sentiment during a March 2023 awards ceremony for women with five or more children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1713\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Belarus flag\" class=\"wp-image-15566\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-1536x1028.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-2048x1370.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Flag of Belarus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Lukashenko\u2019s comments correspond with his administration&#8217;s broader focus on family policies to boost the birth rate and make it harder for women to control their fertility. In 2014, legislation was passed that allowed doctors to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rferl.org\/a\/the-belarusian-hospital-trying-to-break-the-country-s-abortion-habit-\/29839381.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opt out of performing abortions<\/a> on grounds of conscience, significantly restricting access to medical abortions. It also <a href=\"https:\/\/president.gov.by\/en\/belarus\/social\/social-protection\/family-life#:~:text=State%20Support%20for%20Families%20in%20the%20Republic%20of,Stimuli%20for%20working%20mothers%20with%20many%20children%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">introduced a collection of benefits<\/a> to encourage people to have more children, including monetary incentives for large families and state support for house building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, the <a href=\"https:\/\/euneighbourseast.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/belarus-country-gender-equality-brief.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">United Nations Women&#8217;s Gender Equality Brief<\/a> described challenges in Belarus around <em>&#8220;the lack of consistently and comprehensively available primary health and sexual and reproductive health rights and services.&#8221; <\/em>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfweb.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-02\/CCInfoEU_A3_EN_2024_FEB12_0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European Policy Atlas<\/a>, Belarus was ranked 40th out of 47 European nations for policies on contraception access and family planning counselling in February 2024, limiting Belarusians&#8217; ability to control their fertility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Demographic Realities in Belarus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While Lukashenko focuses on increasing the number of children, Belarus&#8217; demographic trends paint a different picture. Birth rates have been declining steadily in recent years. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/database.earth\/population\/belarus\/fertility-rate#:~:text=The%20current%20population%20fertility%20rate%20of%20Belarus%20is,childern%20born%20per%20woman%2C%20by%20the%20year%202100.\">Database Earth<\/a>, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) &#8211; the average number of children a woman will have over her lifetime &#8211; is currently 1.2. The TFR falls well below the 2.1 required to maintain a steady population. This trend is not unique to Belarus but is part of a broader phenomenon that many countries across the globe are experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Minsk, Belarus\" class=\"wp-image-15569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/egor-kunovsky-t8hTkJBe-as-unsplash-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Minsk, Belarus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The government&#8217;s focus on increasing birth rates misses the mark by ignoring the broader societal and economic implications of these trends. It ignores the complex realities of modern family life, where economic stability, access to education and personal freedom often shape decisions about having children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Need for Creative Solutions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Population Matters, we consider lowering birth rates a positive development for both people and the planet, if lower birth rates are a result of individuals who have access to information and health services, and decisions are made free from discrimination, coercion and violence. When women and girls are educated and have access to healthcare and family planning, they typically choose to have fewer children. Empowered people being able to make their own choices are at the heart of our mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coercive pronatalist policies cannot solve Belarus\u2019s demographic challenges, including an ageing population; instead, creative, rights-based solutions are needed. Our report, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/resources\/silver-linings-not-silver-burdens-smaller-families-and-ageing-populations-white-paper\/\">Silver Linings not Silver Burdens<\/a>,<\/em> highlights several such solutions. These include reducing unemployment, stimulating greater productivity \u2013 especially by exploiting new technology \u2013 and valuing older people and the contributions they can make to society. This should also involve investing more resources in their wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We advocate for policies that respect reproductive rights and foster choice, while also considering the broader environmental and economic implications of population growth. In a world with finite resources and increasing environmental pressures, an acceptance of lower birth rates &#8211; combined with policies that ease the effects of demographic shifts &#8211; is essential for a balanced and sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of these issues are discussed annually at the United Nations Commission on Population and Development (CPD). We will be attending the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/development\/desa\/pd\/events\/CPD58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">58th session of CPD<\/a>, taking place from 7\u201311 April 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York, where we will release a new report examining child mortality and host a hybrid event to explore these critical issues. These themes are also central to our new five-year strategy, which we will launch on Wednesday, 19 February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-share\"><a class=\"fb-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F02%2Fbelarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M400 32H48A48 48 0 0 0 0 80v352a48 48 0 0 0 48 48h137.25V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.27c-30.81 0-40.42 19.12-40.42 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V480H400a48 48 0 0 0 48-48V80a48 48 0 0 0-48-48z\"><\/path><\/svg> Share<\/div><\/a><a class=\"tw-share\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F02%2Fbelarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges%2F&amp;text=Belarus'%20Birth%20Rate%3A%20Pronatalist%20Policies%20and%20Demographic%20Challenges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg> Tweet<\/div><\/a><a class=\"li-share\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpopulationmatters.org%2Fnews%2F2025%2F02%2Fbelarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges%2F&amp;text=Belarus'%20Birth%20Rate%3A%20Pronatalist%20Policies%20and%20Demographic%20Challenges\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><div><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg> Post<\/div><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-light-blue-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-grid grid grid-3\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/resources\/welcome-to-gilead-report\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Welcome to Gilead Report<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gilead-logo-banner_0-768x240.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-2410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gilead-logo-banner_0-768x240.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gilead-logo-banner_0-300x94.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gilead-logo-banner_0-1024x320.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gilead-logo-banner_0-1536x480.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Gilead-logo-banner_0-2048x640.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Fully referenced 2021 report examining how pronatal policies are threatening reproductive rights across the world.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/resources\/silver-linings-not-silver-burdens-executive-summary\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Silver Linings not Silver Burdens &#8211; Executive Summary<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"647\" height=\"910\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/exec-summary-cover.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-4991\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/exec-summary-cover.jpg 647w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/exec-summary-cover-213x300.jpg 213w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 647px) 100vw, 647px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>This is the Executive Summary of Population Matters White Paper debunking the common myth that declining fertility rates and resulting population ageing are harmful, and lays out the array of&#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-popmat-post-teaser\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/newsletter\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Support People and Planet \u2013 Stay Updated<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sunlit-trees-768x288.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-1302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sunlit-trees-768x288.jpg 768w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sunlit-trees-300x113.jpg 300w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sunlit-trees-1024x384.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sunlit-trees-1536x576.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sunlit-trees.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/img>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Sign up to our mailing list\u00a0to receive our monthly newsletter, as well as campaign updates and information on how\u00a0to support our work.\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This blog post examines the demographic challenges in Belarus where President Alexander Lukashenko last month secured a seventh term in an election widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. It explores the government&#8217;s emphasis on increasing birth rates, the country\u2019s declining fertility trends and the implications of these policies for women\u2019s autonomy, all within the context of Belarus&#8217; birth rate trends.","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":15566,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[15,17,45],"class_list":["post-15565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-europe_population","tag-family_planning","tag-womens-rights"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Belarus&#039; Birth Rate: Pronatalist Policies &amp; Demographic Challenges<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Belarus&#039; birth rate is declining, yet Lukashenko&#039;s disputed election signals more pronatalist policies restricting reproductive rights.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/02\/belarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Belarus&#039; Birth Rate: Pronatalist Policies &amp; Demographic Challenges\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Belarus&#039; birth rate is declining, yet Lukashenko&#039;s disputed election signals more pronatalist policies restricting reproductive rights.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/02\/belarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Population Matters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PopulationMatters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-13T12:16:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-17T15:58:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/jana-shnipelson-QDXjygmpyPk-unsplash-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1713\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ben Stallworthy\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@PopnMatters\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@PopnMatters\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ben Stallworthy\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/02\/belarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/news\/2025\/02\/belarus-birth-rate-pronatalist-policies-and-demographic-challenges\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ben Stallworthy\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/populationmatters.org\/#\/schema\/person\/e22a727208fdfa4e4352c1697a0fb0cc\"},\"headline\":\"Belarus&#8217; 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