Over the past few decades, socio-economic changes have had a significant impact on the health and well-being of the Russian population. After the rise in mortality associated with the collapse of the USSR, the life expectancy of Russians between 2006 and 2016, according to a study published on the website of the medical journal The Lance, was characterized by a steady increase.
The lowest life expectancy in Russia in 1980 - 2016 was in 1994, when it was 63.7 years for both sexes. In 2016, the life expectancy of Russian men was 65.4 years, while the average life expectancy of Russian women reached an all-time high of 76.2 years. This gap between men and women narrowed slightly between 1980 and 2016, from 11.6 to 10.9 years. However, this inequality between the sexes remains the largest in any country in the world.
A rapid decline in life expectancy was observed shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and between 2006 and 2016, the life expectancy of Russians increased. Similarly, the mortality rate in Russia in 2016 compared with 1980 decreased by 16.6%. This overall decline in mortality was largely due to the changes that have taken place since 2005. It covers cycles of sharp increases and increases in mortality that took place prior to 2005. Child mortality declined 57.5% between 2000 and 2016. However, compared to countries with a similar socio-demographic index, mortality and disability rates in Russia remain high, and life expectancy remains low.
The aim of the study was to describe trends in life expectancy, causes of mortality, and the impact of major risk factors on mortality and morbidity in Russia compared with those in other comparable countries.
The study assesses the frequency, causes and risk factors associated with mortality and morbidity by sex and age over a long period of time in Russia. 333 causes of death and disability were assessed, as well as 84 risk factors by age, sex and year.
Changes in life expectancy and causes of death in Russia were compared with patterns of change in seven compared countries that share the longest common borders with Russia (Finland, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China and Japan). For regional comparisons, data for Germany and the United States were used.