Working-Age Population of Russia and its Neighbours Shrinks by 13%


 
Between 2000 and 2025, the working-age population of Russia and many of its neighbouring states declined. Across the 8 countries listed below, the total population aged between 15 to 64 shrank by 13%.

Population Decline: 2000 to 2025
Millions of people

Country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2000

2025

% Decline

Moldova

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.8

1.9

-32%

Latvia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.6

1.2

-27%

Ukraine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.1

26.2

-23%

Lithuania

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.3

1.8

-21%

Georgia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.8

2.4

-14%

Belarus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.8

5.9

-13%

Estonia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0.9

0.8

-10%

Russia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

102.2

93.9

-8%

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

153.5

134.2

-13%

Country

2000

2025

% Decline

Moldova

2.8

1.9

-32%

Latvia

1.6

1.2

-27%

Ukraine

34.1

26.2

-23%

Lithuania

2.3

1.8

-21%

Georgia

2.8

2.4

-14%

Belarus

6.8

5.9

-13%

Estonia

0.9

0.8

-10%

Russia

102.2

93.9

-8%

Total

153.5

134.2

-13%
Source: World Economics Population Database, 2026




Although Russia experienced the greatest absolute loss of 8.3 million working individuals, the largest relative decline occurred in Moldova, followed by Latvia and Ukraine. This is a result of persistently low fertility rates, compounded by the mass emigration of working-age individuals to western Europe. The working-age populations of these countries are expected to continue to decline in the coming decades.

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