Russia vs Ukraine: population pyramids compared
Russia is about 3.6 times as large as Ukraine, but size is only part of the story. Compare the two age structures on one percentage scale for 2026 and 2050, with every indicator side by side.
UN estimates run through 2023; figures from 2024 onward are medium-scenario projections.
Russia and Ukraine in 2026
Russia population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Ukraine population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Key differences between Russia and Ukraine
Age. Ukraine is the older population, with a median age of 41.8 years against 40.7 in Russia — a gap of 1.1 years. Russia has the larger share of children (16.7% under 15 versus 13.4%), while Ukraine has the larger share aged 65 and over (19.1% versus 18.4%).
Births and survival. Russia’s fertility rate of 1.47 is below the replacement level, and Ukraine’s 1.00 is below it. Life expectancy at birth is 75.0 years in Ukraine and 73.7 in Russia.
Dependency. The total age dependency ratio is 54.1 in Russia (25.8 children and 28.3 older people per 100 aged 15–64) and 48.3 in Ukraine (19.9 and 28.4). Similar totals can hide very different mixes of young and old.
Outlook. Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario has Russia’s population declines by 5% and Ukraine’s declines by 19%. These are scenario results, not forecasts; how projections work explains the assumptions.
Russia vs Ukraine: indicators side by side
| Indicator | Russia | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Population, 2026 | 143,394,458 | 39,535,848 |
| Median age | 40.7 years | 41.8 years |
| Under age 15 | 16.7% | 13.4% |
| Aged 15–64 | 64.9% | 67.5% |
| Aged 65+ | 18.4% | 19.1% |
| Age dependency ratio | 54.1 | 48.3 |
| Fertility rate | 1.47 | 1.00 |
| Life expectancy at birth | 73.7 years | 75.0 years |
| Annual growth | -0.2% | -0.7% |
| Males per 100 females | 86.4 | 87.1 |
| Population, 2050 | 136,132,775 | 31,990,132 |
| Change, 2026–2050 | -5.1% | -19.1% |
| Population, 2100 | 126,386,515 | 15,197,403 |
| Peak year | 1991 | 1993 |
| Global population rank | #9 | #40 |
2026, 2050, and 2100 values are UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium-scenario projections.
How the two pyramids could look in 2050
The same scale is kept for the projected charts, so a narrowing base or widening top can be compared directly with the 2026 shapes above.
Russia population pyramid
2050 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
Ukraine population pyramid
2050 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
What shapes Russia’s pyramid
Russia’s pyramid is jagged with echoes of the Second World War and the 1990s birth collapse, and it has one of the largest female surpluses at older ages. Read the full Russia analysis.
What shapes Ukraine’s pyramid
Ukraine’s pyramid records a century of shocks: a World War II notch at 80–84, a post-Soviet trough at 20–29 and the narrowest base in its history. Read the full Ukraine analysis.
Explore each country in depth
- Russia population pyramid 2026 · Russia in 2050
- Ukraine population pyramid 2026 · Ukraine in 2050
- Open this pair in the interactive comparison tool
Questions about Russia and Ukraine
Which population is older, Russia or Ukraine?
Ukraine is older: its projected 2026 median age is 41.8 years, compared with 40.7 in Russia.
Which has a higher fertility rate, Russia or Ukraine?
Russia has the higher total fertility rate in 2026: 1.47 births per woman, against 1.00 in Ukraine.
Will Russia or Ukraine have more people in 2050?
Under the UN medium scenario, Russia is projected to be larger in 2050, with 136.1M people against 32M.