Russia's rural fertility rate falls to lowest level since Soviet period, official data shows
A maternity ward in rural Russia. Photo: Wikimedia The average fertility rate in rural areas of Russia fell to its lowest level since Soviet times last year, independent outlet RusNews reported on Thursday, citing data from state statistics agency Rosstat. The country’s rural total fertility rate (TFR) stood at 1.464 in 2025. For comparison, the rural TFR was 2.6 in 1990, and its most recent peak came in 2014, when it reached 2.272.