On November 5, the “Vezha” studio hosted a discussion on Ukraine’s pressing socio-economic issues. Center for Public Analytics head Vadyrij Klochuk and financial expert Oleg Penzen took part.
Key topics included demographics and government financial support. According to experts, the last official census was in 2001. Estimates suggest that by 2023, there are about 29–30 million residents in Ukraine, with a significant share being older adults. War and migration have reduced the country’s labor potential. The birth rate is only 0.8–0.85 children per family—one of the lowest in Europe.
The state is trying to stimulate population growth, raising the one-time payment at child birth to 50,000 UAH. There are also plans for more blanket financial assistance—1,000 UAH for every citizen. Penzen notes such general payments are inefficient for social policy and suggests more resources should go to vulnerable groups.
The issue of Ukraine’s railway was also discussed. The “Ukrainian Railway 3000” program, which offers 3,000 km of free travel for citizens, is being promoted, but experts stress that passenger services are loss-making—and declining freight traffic, worsened by war, deepens the financial crisis. The problem could be solved by restructuring and privatizing non-core railway assets.
In conclusion, experts call for a strategic approach to Ukraine’s socio-economic initiatives given demographic challenges, the need to support the population, and the importance of effective state finance management.
