By the close of last year, life expectancy in the Russian Federation reached 72.76 years, up from 70.1 years in 2021, according to Rosstat data. The rise marks a notable improvement and reflects a continuing recovery in health outcomes after earlier shocks to the system.
The year-over-year gain stood at 2.66 years, the largest annual increase observed since the early 1990s. This jump underscores a rebound in survival prospects across the population and signals a shift in the broader health trajectory after a period of stagnation.
Media outlets noted that these figures come from Rosstat’s preliminary estimates of life expectancy at birth. While preliminary, they provide a timely snapshot of how population health is evolving in the contemporary period and help frame policy discussions about social and economic resilience.
The upturn follows a decline experienced during the pandemic years. In 2020, life expectancy fell, and a further drop occurred in 2021, reflecting the direct and indirect effects of the health crisis on mortality and well-being. Since then, the trend has reversed as vaccination campaigns, medical interventions, and broader societal adaptations began to mitigate some of the pandemic’s impacts.
Throughout modern Russian history, annual increases of this scale have been rare. The most recent years have shown more modest gains, making the current improvement more striking within the long-term trend of population health indicators.
There has been debate about specific causes of mortality within the population. Official statements from health authorities at times circulate statistics that require careful interpretation, especially in relation to sudden deaths or other categories of mortality. Official assessments indicate that while sudden deaths occur, they constitute a relatively small share of total deaths, and researchers emphasize the need for careful data review and context when interpreting such statistics.