An article from Aaj Tak discusses the devastating impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has resulted in a severe decrease in the country's population and a rise in widows and orphans. According to a recent CNN report, the fertility rate in Ukraine has fallen below one, and the working-age population has decreased significantly due to casualties and mass migration. The data shows alarming figures: in 2024, Ukraine recorded approximately 495,090 deaths, nearly three times the number of births, underscoring a demographic crisis.

Since the war began in 2022, the workforce has dwindled by 40%, and estimations indicate that between 100,000 to 140,000 Ukrainians have died in the conflict zones. Furthermore, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that over 5.9 million people have fled the country, with approximately 5.4 million seeking asylum in various European nations. Notably, around 44% of these refugees are women and 30% are children, highlighting the humanitarian toll of the war on vulnerable populations.

The article paints a stark picture of a nation on the brink of a population crisis, with an alarming trend in demographic decline. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Ukraine's population was 4.5 million in 2019, and the current circumstances pose a threat to the future stability and recovery of the country, as the ongoing conflict continues to create an environment of uncertainty and despair.