Life expectancy at birth in Russia 1990-2022, by area
In 2022, life expectancy at birth for urban residents in Russia was 73.09 years. For those living in rural areas, it was approximately 71.6 years on average. Both urban and rural populations' average life span figures increased from the previous year. In total, Russians born in 2022 were expected to live roughly 72.7 years. Russia’s life expectancy is lower than in most other European countries and the United States. The Russian government set a national goal to achieve a life expectancy of 78 years by 2030.
Change factors
As in many other countries, life expectancy in Russia saw a decline in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and an increase in deaths from the disease. Even though the figure has increased since 2022 and exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2023, the war in Ukraine and mobilization affect the indicator negatively. That particularly holds for men’s life expectancy, which has historically been significantly lower than women’s.
Historical development
In 2023, life expectancy in Russia was almost 44 years higher than in 1845. Over that period, the indicators experienced a decline during the World Wars, the Russian Revolution of 1917, and a series of famines in the mid-1900s. Moreover, the indicator decreased between 1970 and 1985, in part due to male life expectancy being impacted by alcohol consumption. The 2023 figure was the highest in Russia and the Soviet Union’s history.
