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Russia's New Guidelines Push Women Toward Psychological Counseling

3/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Russia plans to refer women who do not wish to have children to psychologists under new health guidelines.
The guidelines address the declining birth rate that fell to 1.4 births per woman.
The decline has been exacerbated by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Projections show Russia's population could reach about 132 million in two decades and 83 million by century's end under a worst-case scenario.

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Story summary

Russia plans to refer women who do not wish to have children to psychologists under new health guidelines.
The guidelines address the declining birth rate that fell to 1.4 births per woman.
The decline has been exacerbated by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Projections show Russia's population could reach about 132 million in two decades and 83 million by century's end under a worst-case scenario.