Translated material
Life expectancy in Russia has fallen for the first time since 2003. Due to excess mortality during the pandemic
Life expectancy at birth in Russia in 2020 fell to 71.1 years, compared to 73.3 years in 2019. This is stated in the government plan to achieve national development goals, which was published by the Telegram channel "Maisky Ukaz"; the figures given in the document were confirmed by RBC sources.
Life expectancy in Russia has decreased in annual terms for the first time since 2003, RBC notes, citing Rosstat data. The publication points out that this occurred due to excess mortality , which amounted to 358 thousand people in April-December 2020.
Based on the presented plan, the government expects life expectancy to return to 2019 levels only by 2024. According to the government's plan, this figure will be 71.7 years in 2021, 72.3 years in 2022, 72.9 years in 2023, and 73.6 years in 2024.
“The spread of the new coronavirus infection has objectively deviated the Russian Federation from the development trajectory aimed at achieving the national goals set in 2018,” the government’s draft unified plan states.
- A decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in July 2020 requires life expectancy in Russia to rise to 78 years by 2030.