It didn't lack manpower. Total BS. It's population situation was about average for Europe at the time. Men killed in wars don't affect population situation long term, because only women give birth, and a single man can impregnate hundreds.

>military casualties

what casualties? 14 thousand in Afghanistan? Don't make me laugh.

>and related economic failures.

I don't know what you are talking about. Failure to provide food reliably, due to over-urbanisation, is a policy and execution/motivation issue, not population issue. People were just allocated to their jobs improperly and worked shittily due to communism.