As War Casualties Skyrocket, Putin Delays Next Russian Census For 5 Years

That the Kremlin feels compelled to postpone its population census suggests that its casualties in Ukraine have become sufficiently noticeable in internal analyses that they risk embarrassing Putin. 

Not counting them doesn't make them any less dead, but it does hide their rising numbers. JL

Amir Daftari reports in Newsweek:

Russian President Putin has signed a federal law suspending part of the All-Russian Population Census. The law, effective until January 1, 2029, halts Paragraph 4 of Article 3 of the census law, affecting the frequency of selective federal statistical observations, which traditionally cover a sample of at least 5 percent of the population. This measure is intended to hide Russian society from the demographic impact that the casualties in Ukraine are having on the population. The suspension was approved by the Federation Council on September 25, 2024. Russian officials have yet to clarify if or how they plan to compensate for the lack of up-to-date population data over the next five years. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law suspending part of the All-Russian Population Census.

 

According to some sources, this measure is intended to hide Russian society from the demographic impact that the casualties in Ukraine are having on the population.

A tally by independent Russian media outlet Mediazona and BBC News Russian released on September 27 said more than 71,057 Russian soldiers had been confirmed to have been killed, an increase of 1,998 since its last update in mid-September, although an estimate by Kyiv in the same month put the Moscow's total losses at 649,170.

Newsweek has not been able to independently verify the figures.

 

The law, effective until January 1, 2029, halts Paragraph 4 of Article 3 of the census law, affecting the frequency of selective federal statistical observations, which traditionally cover a sample of at least 5 percent of the population.

 

The suspended paragraph had mandated regular surveys as part of Russia's ongoing efforts to track population changes. However, with this change, it is unclear how Moscow will proceed with population tracking in the coming years.

 

The suspension was approved by the Federation Council on September 25, 2024. Russian officials have yet to clarify if or how they plan to compensate for the lack of up-to-date population data over the next five years.

Additionally, Moscow's suspension of this key census component may affect international bodies and businesses that depend on the country's demographic data for analysis, market strategies, and forecasting. It also adds Russia to a growing list of countries grappling with how to maintain accurate population statistics in the face of financial, technological, and political obstacles.

While the suspension is set to end in 2029, it remains uncertain whether other changes to Russia's census process will be introduced during this period.