The combination of extremely low birth rates, migration losses and moderate mortality is leading to both rapid population decline and ageing in many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Because this is an unprecedented phenomenon, the international community cannot provide these countries with policy advice or reference to best practices elsewhere.

The report, which is being issued in conjunction with the upcoming Commission on Population and Development, notes that the decline in population size over the coming decades in Eastern Europe is certain. The remaining questions are how rapidly and by how much the population will contract. Due to a much younger age structure and current high fertility levels, demographic trends for Central Asia are expected to diverge from those in Eastern Europe. This demographic heterogeneity will likely impact future migration patterns.