[:uk]The Demographic Development Strategy of Ukraine for the period up to 2040, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine by order No. 922-r dated September 30, 2024, is a comprehensive document aimed at overcoming negative demographic trends exacerbated by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
**The main goal of the Strategy** is to ensure sustainable and long-term reproduction of the population of Ukraine, improve its socio-demographic characteristics, and form the demographic resilience of the state.
**The Strategy identifies the following key issues:**
1. **Rapid decline in population** due to depopulation and large-scale labor migration. The population of Ukraine has significantly decreased and is projected to shrink to 28.9 million by 2041.
2. **Low birth rate.** The total fertility rate is at 0.9, which is nearly half of the level necessary for the simple reproduction of the population.
3. **High premature mortality rate,** especially among men, attributed to both military actions and chronic diseases, unhealthy lifestyles, and other factors.
4. **Mass forced emigration of the population,** particularly women and children, as a result of armed aggression. Approximately 5 million Ukrainians are currently abroad.
5. **Demographic aging.** The share of individuals aged 65 and older has increased to 22% in 2024, leading to increased pressure on the social protection system and the working population.
6. **Mass internal displacement of the population,** impacting the deterioration of the demographic situation through changes in family plans regarding childbirth and insufficient social infrastructure in receiving communities.
**Core principles for implementing the Strategy:**
– Human-centeredness.
– Respect for each individual’s choice.
– Equality and non-discrimination.
– Efficiency and effectiveness.
– Inclusivity.
– Consideration of regional peculiarities.
– Informational objectivity.
– Rule of law.
– Ensuring a culture of safe living.
**Strategic goals and objectives of the Strategy:**
1. **Creating conditions for migration growth and reducing the outflow of Ukrainians abroad**
– **Facilitating the voluntary return of Ukrainians from abroad.**
– **Deepening cooperation with the Ukrainian diaspora.**
– **Attracting migrants from among foreign citizens** to meet labor market needs.
– **Reducing the outflow of youth abroad** through investments in education and vocational training.
2. **Creating conditions for increasing the birth rate and supporting families**
– **Overcoming negative stereotypes regarding motherhood and fatherhood.**
– **Improving the reproductive health of the nation.**
– **Creating a family-friendly environment.**
– **Enhancing the economic self-sufficiency of families.**
– **Providing comprehensive state support to families with children.**
– **Promoting the upbringing of children in biological families** or in other family forms when necessary.
3. **Reducing premature mortality**
– **Promoting a healthy lifestyle.**
– **Early detection and prevention of diseases.**
– **Reducing risk factors for injury or mortality.**
– **Improving accessibility and quality of medical care.**
– **Developing infrastructure for healthy leisure.**
4. **Activating the maximum number of citizens who can work in the labor market**
– **Analyzing and forecasting labor market needs.**
– **Facilitating the return of persons with disabilities, veterans, the elderly, and internally displaced persons to the labor market.**
– **Increasing the employment rate of youth after completing their education.**
– **Modernizing labor legislation** in accordance with EU law.
5. **Adapting society to demographic aging and creating conditions for active longevity**
– **Supporting the health and well-being of the elderly.**
– **Creating conditions for their active life.**
– **Ensuring quality of life and social integration for older adults.**
6. **Developing opportunities for a quality life. Ukraine is a state where one wants to live**
– **Creating a safe environment.**
– **Increasing citizens’ trust in the state.**
– **Ensuring accessibility in all infrastructure facilities.**
– **Developing mechanisms for providing housing to citizens.**
– **Improving accessibility and quality of social infrastructure.**
– **Social cohesion within Ukrainian society.**
**Financial provision for the implementation of the Strategy** will be carried out from the state and local budgets, as well as other sources not prohibited by law. The attraction of investments, humanitarian, and international technical assistance is also anticipated.
**Monitoring and evaluation procedures for the implementation of the Strategy:**
– The implementation of the Strategy will take place from 2024 to 2040.
– Development and approval of operational action plans for each three-year period.
– Annual monitoring and evaluation of the results of the Strategy’s implementation, preparation of reports to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
– Establishment of indicative indicators for monitoring, including population size, birth and death rates, life expectancy, demographic load, etc.
**The operational action plan for 2024–2027** includes:
1. **Establishment of an interagency working group** to develop an action plan for the implementation of the Strategy.
2. **Conducting strategic sessions** to elaborate on the action plan.
3. **Developing and approving an action plan** for the implementation of the Strategy.
4. **Conducting an assessment of the results** of the implementation of the Strategy and preparing annual reports.
5. **Developing and approving subsequent operational action plans** for 2028–2030 and further periods.
**The overall approach of the Strategy** is to comprehensively address demographic issues through creating favorable conditions for the life, work, and development of Ukrainians, encouraging the return of citizens from abroad, supporting families, improving the health status of the population, and adapting to demographic changes.[:]
