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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Colleagues, good afternoon,

We have a very important topic today. We understand that topics related to supporting and protecting families, their values, prestige, and status are unfading. They are crucial and fundamental when solving demographic problems for many generations to come and seeking response to critical challenges we are facing in this sphere.

The purpose of the family, its very essence, is in procreation, and therefore in providing the growth of Russia's ethnically diverse population. During today's meeting of the State Council, we will discuss proposals for ensuring more efficient and more effective support for families in the future.

In the outgoing year a lot has been done to enhance the essential role of family in Russian society, as well as its high moral status. Efforts must continue to preserve and develop family traditions and values, as well as the culture of motherhood and fatherhood must be continued, and special focus must be given to large families. They must become an example of success and great public recognition.

The family – older generations, young parents, and children -ought to hold the leading position and play the central role in our state policy. Only then will we manage to successfully solve demographic problems and create conditions for parents to want to have as many children as possible.

Let me note that the share of Russian families with three or more children is growing. There were 23.3 percent of them in 2018, and over 30 percent last year. At the same time, the general trend persists of declining birth rates, postponing marriage and having children. We must reverse this negative trend, and our new national projects – Family, Youth and Children, Long and Active Life – are targeting this. Their implementation will begin next year.

All of our large plans must work for the benefit of people, to raise the standard and quality of life of Russian families. And it is our citizens and their children who are to implement them.

There must be many more of us, Russians, for the successful future of Russia and its progress. This is above all about increasing the number of large families. As I have repeatedly said, a large family with many children in it is and should be the picture of Russia’s future.

Now about the implementation of the measures outlined in the Executive Order on solving the most pressing problems of large families, issued at the beginning of this year. These problems are enrolling children in kindergartens on a priority basis, free prescription medications for children under six, free meals for vocational schools and institutions students, and free buss passes, school and sports uniforms for schoolchildren. It was also proposed to set a procedure for providing discounts on housing and utilities services of at least 30 percent, as well as assistance in improving housing conditions.

All of the above is under the purview of the constituent entities of the Federation. However, these measures are not being implemented in full everywhere. Colleagues, I am kindly asking you to pay attention to these issues. Their solution is among the top priorities of our joint work.

It is common knowledge that is takes a lot of hard work to bring up three, four or more children. Russia’s Mother Heroines are rightfully held in the same high esteem as Heroes of Labour. However, they do not enjoy the same level of financial security. We should eliminate this inequality, this unfairness, and extend all the social benefits, privileges, and payments, provided to Heroes of Labour, to women holding the high title of Mother Heroine. They undoubtedly deserve it.

We must do everything in our power so that large families have as few problems as possible. Unfortunately, they are still present, including pensions. Childcare is counted towards work experience, but the total period cannot exceed six years. Moreover, starting from the fifth child, pension coefficients are not accrued.

Such limitations of pensions rights for parents of five or more children must certainly be addressed, and childcare provided for each child until they reach 18 months of age should be accounted for when calculating pensions. I would like to ask the Government to take relevant steps as soon as possible.

Colleagues,

We are doing a lot to help low-income families. Last year, a single allowance for children up to and including 17 years of age was launched. When my colleagues and I were preparing for yesterday’s Direct Line, we also talked about this. Ms Golikova believes that this is actually the most effective support measure now, after maternity capital, which is our exclusive tool for supporting families. This measure is comprehensive, and it is quite effective. I propose increasing the availability of a social contract for such families without considering the single allowance when signing it.

The regions are also introducing their own additional measures. As a result of our joint efforts, the number of families that have managed to overcome difficult life situations with the help of the state is growing. We will continue to work in this direction.

I want to stress once again the importance of addressing the immense demographic challenge we face. It is essential to develop and implement effective measures that genuinely boost birth rates and encourage families to have three, four, or more children.

One such measure is the maternity capital programme, which was just highlighted. As we focus on increasing the birth rate, it is crucial to continue enhancing this initiative.

It is important to organise our efforts in a way that ensures all families, regardless of their income levels, feel the support and care of the state. In this context, I propose discussing the following issues:

First, we need to conduct a thorough analysis of the effectiveness of the pilot project aimed at increasing the birth rate. This project is currently being implemented in the Novgorod, Penza, and Tambov regions and has been running for one year. The timeframe is limited, but it is crucial for us to assess the potential of this initiative. Please provide a detailed overview of the measures taken in these regions and the results achieved so far.

Second, there is a need for more active involvement of businesses and employers in addressing the country’s demographic agenda. Responsible businesses are already contributing to this effort by prioritising the well-being of their employees, including their families, and providing comprehensive social packages.

Several companies have taken a step further by providing corporate family capital to employees upon the birth of a child. This statesmanlike, mature approach should be supported and encouraged. Currently, such lump-sum payments by a company to an employee are exempt from personal income tax and insurance premiums, but only up to 50,000 rubles. I propose increasing this amount to one million rubles, including if these funds are provided as financial assistance, and classifying these company expenses as economically justified when calculating income tax.

Of course, in addition to financial payments, other support measures should be utilised. These include additional days off, travel vouchers, and various incentives for families with children. It is clear that in some regions, such business approaches have already become standard practice, and they should certainly be actively expanded.

I also propose creating a rating of our largest companies based on the number of children under the age of 6 among their employees. I believe this is a key indicator of their involvement in addressing demographic challenges.

Third, when drafting national projects we specifically stressed that almost every one of them must include measures aimed at improving the quality of life of families with children. I know that the Government, together with the State Council commissions, has already carried out this work. It is necessary that these approaches are actively rolled out starting next year.

However, not all agencies take them into account. One example is the availability of family flights, which we also discussed yesterday on the Direct Line. Everyone knows what we are talking about. I will say a bit more about this.

The legislative base already envisages a 50 percent discount on tickets for children under 12. However, it is written in such a way that it is easy for air companies to bypass it, so that buying tickets is a big problem for large families. Most cannot afford going to the seaside for a holiday by air, or to other places of our country. I would like to ask the Government to solve this problem, and I think I said this yesterday, by January 14 next year. I would also like to ask you to work together with the regions in general to develop measures to organise vacations for families with children, especially large families.

The next key task is to preserve and strengthen health of adults and children, in fact, all family generations. An important role in this belongs to prevention, especially early disease detection and timely treatment of reproductive health disorders, including in children (we need to think about this in advance) – both girls and boys.

These are issues that must be professionally addressed by medical institutions, of course. However, the authorities, both at the regional and the federal level, must keep these issues under constant control. This concerns our future generations.

Another sphere is supporting young parents’ intention to have children early, which must be supported. Yesterday we said that women have their first children at the age of 28–29. It is well known what happens next. They want to go back to work, then complete their education, additional education, career, and so on. And that’s it. There is no time for a second child. Special attention should be paid to expectant mothers who are full-time university, college, and vocational school students. As a matter of priority, it is necessary to increase their maternity benefits to the subsistence minimum.

Another support measure, which was also discussed yesterday on the Direct Line, is the issue of preferential mortgages and housing. This is one of the key concerns for young families.

Analysis of the information from yesterday’s Direct Line shows that people are very concerned about the preferential family mortgage at 6 percent. We agreed with the Government that this should remain without any exceptions. I believe one potential innovation could be added to enhance it. We should keep the preferential mortgage for families at the rate of 6 percent. At the moment, people are only eligible for this kind of mortgage if they acquire new homes: the programme does not cover resale properties. And it is clear why: we considered that supporting the construction sector would be an immediate benefit. Mr Khusnullin, do not overthink it. I still believe that we should allow families to buy resale housing at the preferential rate of 6 percent. Let us agree that this will apply specifically to existing homes in communities where virtually no new housing is built. This should not negatively affect construction companies or the industry as a whole. I ask the Government to work on this and define clear criteria for identifying settlements with minimal or no new housing developments, criteria that are transparent and free from manipulation.

Another important decision, which, although not directly related to our topic today, holds significant importance for the country. Next year, we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. With this in view, I suggest declaring 2025 the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland to honour our heroes, to pay respects to both the participants in the special military operation that is unfolding today, and the feats of all our ancestors who fought for our homeland in different historical periods, as well as our fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers who triumphed over Nazism.

Let us get to work.

<…>Vladimir Putin: You know, I have something to say in conclusion. My colleagues from the Duma said in their speeches that war has been declared on the Russian world. And this is true. They said that 1.6 percent of the birth rate is not enough, because it means extinction. Reproduction alone is 2.1 percent. Expanded reproduction is 2.3 percent. We must strive for this. That is right, and I spoke about this yesterday.

In the Soviet Union, it was 2 percent, but even that is not enough. I believe that the Soviet Union had these 2 percent were due to those republics that are not part of the Russian Federation today. Of course, we need to check, but I am almost sure that this is true.

As for Mendelyev’s forecasts and counts that Russia would have had 600 million, they could have been true, if the internal political situation with the army did not escalate during World War I, if we did not unilaterally declare ourselves the losing side, and if the civil war did not happen, when almost 10 million were killed if I remember correctly. Perhaps it is even more than we lost during World War I.

Next, the Great Patriotic War, and the political tensions rose again. First, there was a decline in the birth rate in 1943–1944, during the Great Patriotic War, and then they escalated the domestic political situation again, destroyed the Soviet Union, and once again a decline in birth rate followed, because the level of planning for the average citizen was reduced to zero. Ordinary people did not know what would happen tomorrow. What can we talk about and how can we plan a family? And again, the same sharp decline as during the Great Patriotic War.

Of course, everything that Ms Golikova and our colleagues have just said is very important. This includes material support, healthcare, housing. I also said this. Everything must be done.

In addition, what our colleagues said about toys, games and other content must be done, too. This must be the focus of our attention, too, and I would like to first ask State Duma deputies to think, analyse everything and make their proposals, and next adopt a decision on this together with the Government.

While discussing the importance of providing material support to families, a thought came to mind. In some highly developed countries in the EU and Asia, the situation is not only similar to ours but in many cases even worse. For instance, Finland, Spain, Japan, and South Korea all have lower birth rates than we do; South Korea's is as low as 0.7, which represents a real demographic crisis. If we examine the family support measures in these countries, I am confident they are significant, possibly no less comprehensive than ours. Additionally, their per capita income levels are higher. Though I haven not personally verified this, it seems likely.

What is the situation within Russia? The regions with the highest birth rates are the Chechen Republic and Tyva. I recently asked my colleagues for data on per capita income for the third quarter of this year. In Chechnya, the per capita income is 42,936 rubles, and in Tyva, it is 32,148 rubles. Meanwhile, the national average per capita income is 61,197 rubles for the same period. The difference is significant: 61,197 rubles nationwide compared to 32,000 in Tyva. If we consider Moscow and St Petersburg, where per capita incomes are much higher, the birth rates are notably lower than those in Tyva or Chechnya.

Why is this the case? In regions like the Caucasus, particularly in Chechnya, and in Tyva, the institution of family remains exceptionally strong. Regardless of opinions about teips, clan traditions, or the customs of different peoples within the Russian Federation, this cultural foundation is deeply rooted. Even during the most challenging times, including periods of significant unrest in the Caucasus, people were not left abandoned. Family and relatives consistently took care of their own, ensuring that no one was neglected.

As we gather here, with so many of us representing the extended Government of Russia, we must fully grasp the critical nature of the demographic challenges facing our country. That is why, during yesterday’s Direct Line, I emphasised to nearly all of you present that addressing this matter must be a priority. It should be the first thing you consider at the start of your day and the last thing on your mind as you conclude it.

I say this with complete sincerity: we must look to the regions of our country where birth rates are high and analyse the factors contributing to it. Much of it comes down to how we value the institution of family, how we support families, and the respect we show to people. Of course, material support is essential in today’s world; without it, little can be achieved. However, I must reiterate that Europe and the Asian countries I mentioned are also part of the modern, post-industrial world. Despite their efforts to address these issues, their strategies often fail.

Our former ambassador to Japan once shared an interesting observation during my visit there. While we were driving, I asked him, “Why is the birth rate situation here like this?” He replied, “You know, the issue is…” – and I do not recall the exact figure he mentioned – but he explained that, according to surveys at the time, many young people up to the age of 30, or perhaps 35, reported not having friends and not wanting any. That, he said, is a significant factor contributing to the low birth rate. Whether the situation has changed since then, I cannot say, but his insight highlights a societal challenge. One of the former prime ministers once remarked to me over a glass of sake, “Could it be that our sperm is somehow different?” But biology is not the issue; it is roughly consistent across the world. The real question lies in the state of society. This is why fostering an environment for children that includes toys, games, and positive societal influences is so crucial. It sets the tone for the collective morale and unity of society. It is up to us to ensure we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, such as the internal instability that contributed to the collapse of the army during the First World War or the societal discord that preceded the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

All of this holds exceptional significance. Everything is interconnected, family values included, forming a comprehensive whole. When one element collapses, the rest quickly follows. The dissolution of the Soviet Union illustrates this vividly: a sharp decline in birth rates, reminiscent of the figures during 1942, 1943, and 1944.

It is crucial to focus on these aspects: our history, traditions, and family values. These are not mere words. By prioritising and addressing these issues as vital national concerns, we can achieve meaningful results. This is precisely the call to action I want to emphasise to all of you.

Let me extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on the upcoming New Year! I want to express my gratitude to the Government, the leadership of the State Duma, the Federation Council, all senators and deputies, faction leaders, the heads of Russia’s regions, regional teams, and both executive and legislative authorities for their productive collaboration. By all accounts, the joint efforts have been truly fruitful, as evidenced by the results I highlighted yesterday, which are clearly visible.

I am confident that with the same constructive approach, we will continue to achieve success in our work – for the benefit of Russia and all its citizens.

Thank you for your attention. Wishing you all the best.