Lithuanian government declares 2027–2028 the “Years of the Family”
The Lithuanian government will prioritise family policy and demographic improvement in its decision-making starting next year, with 2027–2028 officially declared the “Years of the Family,” Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė announced on Wednesday, LRT reports.
“I propose that today the government begin with an ambitious goal—I suggest declaring 2027 and 2028 the Years of the Family,” Ruginienė told the Cabinet meeting. Ministers unanimously supported the proposal.
The initiative goes beyond symbolic naming, she said, requiring all government decisions and projects—whether in justice, social security, national security, or road infrastructure—to align with strengthening family policy and improving demographic trends.
Ruginienė acknowledged that for years, declining birth rates and family policy had been addressed piecemeal or postponed. “Our government’s goal is to systematically and comprehensively strengthen family policy and tackle the issue of shrinking demographics,” she stated.
She urged ministries to use 2026 to prepare for 2027, when informational campaigns and “concrete actions” would launch. Some measures are already underway, she noted, but “we could devote even more attention to our families.”
The prime minister’s remarks followed a presentation on Lithuania’s demographic trends and potential solutions, with input from the ministers of social security, health, interior, foreign affairs, and environment. Proposed measures include:
- Assessing the demographic impact of legislation
- Expanding housing access for young families, including in rural areas
- Reviewing maternity benefits and childcare leave
- Providing free meals for children in grades 3–4
- Increasing access to fertility treatments
- Promoting positive parenting programmes
- Boosting education funding and talent-attraction initiatives
- Encouraging return migration and strengthening diaspora ties
- Streamlining repatriation for returning citizens
- Aligning migration policy with national priorities
Social Security Minister Jūratė Zailskienė highlighted challenges in family formation, noting that some people struggle to meet partners. “We could think about how to help people at least get to know each other,” she said, suggesting discussions with youth organisations, businesses, and even reviving social events like discotheques for younger generations. “It sounds humorous, but it’s a serious issue,” she added.
The announcement follows President Gitanas Nausėda’s earlier warning that Lithuania’s demographic decline resembles a “ticking time bomb.” He pledged to submit bills during the spring parliamentary session to boost birth rates, improve housing for families, and support working mothers. Official data shows Lithuania’s population fell by 0.1% last year, with a record-low 17,500 births in 2025—an 8.4% drop from 2024. Projections suggest the population could halved by 2100 without intervention.