Mykolaiv region sets anti-record for birth rate among southern regions of Ukraine

In the first half of 2026, Mykolaiv region recorded the worst ratio of births to deaths among the southern oblasts of Ukraine: nearly 19 deaths for every newborn.

The data were published on the OpenDataBot platform based on information from the Ministry of Justice.

Over the six-month period, only 134 newborns and 2,508 deaths were registered in Mykolaiv region. This is the worst figure among the southern regions of the country.

Second place in the gap between birth rate and death rate goes to Kherson region: in the first half of the year, 166 children were born there, while 2,274 people died. The ratio amounts to nearly 14 deaths per newborn.

Odesa region shows one of the best figures among the southern regions: in the first half of the year, 5,450 children were born and 17,389 people died — approximately 3.2 deaths per newborn.

Across Ukraine as a whole, 73,292 children were born in the first half of 2026, while 259,853 deaths were recorded — the death rate exceeds the birth rate by 3.5 times. Compared to the first half of 2025, the number of newborns fell by 16%, and relative to the figures on the eve of the full-scale war — by half. Slightly more boys are being born: 51% versus 49% girls.

The outlet Intent had previously reported on the worsening demographic situation in southern Ukraine. In February of last year, the worst figures were recorded in Kherson region, where there were eleven deaths for every newborn. Odesa region ranked fourth in Ukraine and first among the southern oblasts by number of newborns in the first half of 2025.