Russian MP proposes taxing childless people

Russian MP Evgeny Fyodorov, a member of the State Duma (lower house of parliament), has proposed restoring a tax on childless people to boost population growth.

This tax program dates back to the Soviet era, passed during World War II and lasting until the collapse of the Soviet Union. The tax applied to men aged 20-50 and married women aged 20-45.

“We must encourage childbirth,” Evgeny Fyodorov told Moscow Speaks radio. The United Russia lawmaker added that revenue from the tax could be used to fund welfare programs to help families with children.

“Should we introduce taxes for this reason? If there is not enough money for the projects we have mentioned, then we should do it,” the Russian lawmaker commented. “This is not a punishment, but a solution to the problem,” he said.

Over the years, Russian politicians and officials have floated similar ideas, but the measures have not received full support.

Another lawmaker, Svetlana Bessarab, said the tax would be “discriminatory against people without children,” and “really a punishment, no matter what we call it.”

The world's population is currently around 8.1 billion, of which Russia's population is around 144.7 million. Russia's population size is expected to decline significantly by 2050.

China, the world's second most populous country (after being overtaken by India), will also see its population decline for the first time in 60 years in 2023. Many other countries, particularly in Europe and Asia, will also see their populations decline in the coming decades, according to projections published by the United Nations.

According to Euronews, there are many reasons behind this decline, some of which are specific to each country, but all have to do with low fertility rates, meaning that women are having fewer children on average than before. Other reasons include war and migration.

According to the World Bank, fertility rates of 1.2 to 1.6 children per woman are recorded in southern and eastern European countries. Meanwhile, a fertility rate above 2 is the level needed to keep a population stable.

Japan's population fell by more than 3 million between 2011 and 2021.

Phuong Anh (Source: RT, Euronews)

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