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Like in wartime

Ukraine’s population will fall to 37 million by 2050, experts predict
17 July, 00:00
EXPERTS ARE WORRIED: HOW CAN WE SAVE THE MEN? / Photo by Oleh NYCH

This year World Population Day, traditionally marked on July 11, was devoted to saving the male population of Ukraine. The mortality rate among the representatives of the “stronger sex” is much higher than among women. This was the topic discussed by experts at a recent roundtable. According to data presented by deputy head of the State Statistics Committee Natalia Vlasenko, IN 2005-06 the difference in the life expectancy of men and women was nearly 12 years (62 and 74, respectively). “A similar process took place during wartime. There are many more suicides among men. In 2006, 38 out of 1,000 men committed suicide. The reasons behind these premature deaths are chronic diseases and addiction to alcohol and drugs. Sixty percent of men are active tobacco smokers, and only 10 percent do sports on a regular basis. If this trend continues, young women will soon have nobody to marry. A similar situation has emerged in Russia and other countries of the former CIS. Meanwhile, in China 120 boys are born for every 100 girls,” Vlasenko says.

Olena Makarova, deputy head of the Institute of Demography and Social Research at Ukraine’s National Academy of Sciences, emphasized that Ukraine is experiencing a deep demographic crisis, and in the last 10 years our population has shrunk by 5 million. Our country has the lowest birthrate in Europe. The main reasons are the unsatisfactory state of the environment (linked to Ukrainians’ poor health), economic crisis, unequal living conditions (urban and rural disparities in access to medical, educational, and other services), and a high mortality rate linked to accidents, traumas, and poisonings (70,000 Ukrainian victims annually).

“Two or three children have to be born in families in order for the demographic situation to improve. But we have mostly the one-child family model in our country. The forecast for the future is quite pessimistic: according to experts, the population of Ukraine will fall to 35-36 million by 2050. Today our country is living in a period of five epidemic and two crises. Therefore, all Ukrainians must take care of themselves and their health,” Makarova says.

Professor Borys Vornyk, Merited Doctor of Ukraine, has suggested that the next few years should be devoted to saving our men. He says that this mission should be carried out by women. They are the ones who should be teaching young boys to be careful and to lead a healthy lifestyle.

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