In two years, the number of first graders fell by 25 percent.

In just two years, the number of first graders in Russia decreased by one quarter – the Russian Statistical Office of Rosstat said. The data also shows that Russia is also struggling with a record low fertility indicator.

According to information published by the Federal State Statistics Service, about 1.5 million first graders sat on school benches on September 1. A year earlier there were 1.8 million, in 2023 – 2 million. This means that in the last two years the number of first graders has fallen by 25 percent.

At the same time, the data shows that the fertility rate in May this year. It fell to a level of 1,376 a woman per woman and it was the lowest reading since 2006. Over the past 10 years, the fertility rate has dropped by 22 percent.

The consequence of this trend is also a decrease in the number of births. Last year, only 1.222 million children were born in Russia. It's 3.4 percent Less than in 2023 and the least since 1999. The data published by Rosstat shows that the downward trend only deepens – in the first quarter of 2025 only 288.8 thousand were born. children, which is a 4 % decrease compared to the same period last year. (PAP)

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