Vladimir Putin wants Russians to have sex during work breaks as country’s birth rate declines

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly advised Russians to have sex at work, during their lunch and coffee breaks, in an effort to combat the country’s declining birth rate.

According to a report in Metro, Putin’s directive comes as Russia’s current fertility rate stands at approximately 1.5 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed for population stability.

The country’s population has also taken a dip due to the ongoing war with Ukraine, which has led to an exodus of over a million, mostly young, Russians.

Russian Health Minister Dr Yevgeny Shestopalov emphasised that work should not be an obstacle to procreation, urging Russians to take advantage of lunch and coffee breaks for family expansion.

“Being very busy at work is not a valid reason, but a lame excuse. You can engage in procreation during breaks, because life flies by too quickly,” Metro quoted Shestopalov as saying.

In response to a question about the feasibility of such suggestions for those working long hours, Shestopalov reiterated the importance of utilising break times.

“Make babies during break times,” he said.

The Kremlin has suggested several other measures to boost Russia’s declining birth rate. In Moscow, women between the ages of 18 and 40 are being encouraged to participate in free fertility screenings designed to evaluate their reproductive health and potential.

In the Chelyabinsk region of Russia, authorities have introduced a financial incentive aimed at boosting the birth rate. Women under the age of 24 are offered a payment of 1.02 lakh ruble (Rs 9.40 lakh) upon the birth of their first child.

Access to abortion is being increasingly restricted across Russia, with public figures and religious leaders advocating that a woman’s primary responsibility is to bear and raise children.

Additionally, fees for divorce have also been increased.

Russia has recorded its lowest birth rate in 25 years for the first half of 2024, according to official data released earlier this month. The figures also revealed that in June, births dropped below one lakh for the first time, marking a significant decline.

Between January and June 2024, a total of 5,99,600 children were born in Russia, which is 16,000 fewer than during the same period in 2023.

“This is catastrophic for the future of the nation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in July, according to news agency AFP. “It [the birth rate] is now at a terribly low level — 1.4 [births per woman]. This is comparable to European countries, Japan, and so on”.