In the first half of 2026, the death rate in the Donetsk oblast exceeded the birth rate by 19 times. This is the lowest birth rate among all regions of Ukraine. This was reported by analysts at Opendatabot.
During the first six months of 2026, 134 children were born in the Donetsk oblast — the lowest figure among all regions of Ukraine (excluding the Luhansk oblast and Crimea, where birth statistics were not published).
According to the analysts, citing the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, compared to the same period in 2025, the birth rate in the Donetsk oblast decreased threefold.
At the same time, 2,508 deaths were registered in the region during the first half of this year. A lower death toll among Ukraine's regions was recorded only in the Kherson region, where 2,274 people died over the six-month period.
"Life and death statistics have significantly worsened this year. On average, the death rate exceeds the birth rate by four times. For comparison, last year this ratio was 3 to 1. The most severe situation is observed in the frontline regions: in the Donetsk oblast there is one newborn for every 19 deaths; in the Kherson oblast, 1 to 14; and in the Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv oblasts, 1 to 6", - the analytical report states.
Overall, 73,292 children were born in Ukraine during the first six months of 2026. At the same time, according to the Ministry of Justice, 259,853 deaths were registered — the first official increase in the number of deaths over the past five years, Opendatabot noted.