Support offered for extended maternity aid to initial-born children, with payout lasting until age 24, per Deputy Lantratova's proposal.
Russia is taking steps to address its declining birthrate with the increase in maternity capital for first-time mothers under 24, as part of a broader national Family project. The programme, which includes digitization and simplification of maternity capital access, increased benefits for full-time student mothers, uniform allowances for early pregnancy registration, and tax deduction programs for families with two or more children, is expected to run until 2030 with substantial funding allocated.
The move is aimed at encouraging earlier family formation, particularly among young and student mothers, who often face financial insecurity during pregnancy and early child-rearing. The increased maternity benefits, up to ₽90,000, will be available from September 2025.
Previous experience with maternity capital in Russia, introduced in 2007, has shown a significant positive impact on fertility rates, with a 38% rise in the number of children per woman from 1.28 to 1.76 during 2006–2015. This indicates a strong stimulative effect on birth rates and an increase in family size, contributing to slowing demographic decline.
However, Russia continues to face challenges such as aging maternal age, regional disparities in birthrates, and high mortality rates due to socio-economic stresses and geopolitical factors. Experts agree that while maternity capital and other incentives have raised birthrates historically, reversing demographic decline fully requires addressing these broader social and economic issues as well.
Deputy Yana Lantratova has proposed to increase maternity capital by 1 million rubles for those who have a first child before the age of 24. Senator Olga Epifanova agrees that financial support for families, including maternity capital, can stimulate an increase in birth rates, especially for second or subsequent children. Sergei Mironov has proposed an additional payment to maternity capital for the birth of a third and each subsequent child.
It's worth noting that the maternity capital payment is not dependent on the parent's age. If a parent does not receive the certificate after the birth of the first child, the family is entitled to 912,126 rubles for the second child. The maternity capital payment for a first child is 690,267 rubles, and 221,890 rubles for a second child born or adopted after January 1, 2020.
The average age of first-time mothers in Russia is 28-29 years, according to a meeting of the State Council with Vladimir Putin in 2024. Lantratova's proposal could potentially have a positive impact on the demographic situation and reverse the trend of delayed parenthood.
However, Epifanova notes that the optional flexibility in the use of maternity capital remains a problem, and that maternity capital may not be a universal solution to demographic problems, as its influence is gradually decreasing, and its impact on the decision to have a first child remains quite limited. She emphasizes that monetary measures alone do not eliminate deep-seated social and psychological barriers to having children.
In summary, the increase in maternity capital for first-time mothers under 24 is a strategically targeted policy expected to positively affect birth rates among young women by alleviating financial and social barriers, continuing the demographic improvements seen earlier with the maternity capital program. However, it is part of a complex system of social policies that must also address underlying demographic and health challenges in Russia.
A woman under 24 may find financial security during pregnancy and early child-rearing more achievable with the proposed increase in maternity capital, a move aimed at encouraging earlier family formation. The health and wellness of expectant mothers could potentially improve due to the ease in accessing maternity capital, contributing to a rise in women's health and overall birthrates.
