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Russian children’s mortality rate fell by 55.4% over past 10 years, policy paper shows

The infant mortality rate in 2023 was the lowest since the metric started to be recorded

MOSCOW, November 14. /TASS/. The mortality rate of children under the age of 17 in Russia has dropped by 55.4% since 2013, according to a draft strategy of actions to implement the national family and demographic policies.

"The mortality rate of children up to and including 17 years of age has decreased by 55.4% since 2013 to 40.7 deaths per 100,000 people in the age cohort in 2023. The reduction in mortality was also due to a decrease in child mortality from external causes from 27 deaths (according to data from the Federal Statistics Service) per 100,000 people in the relevant age cohort in 2006 to 11.9 deaths in 2023," the draft strategy said.

According to the document, reducing child mortality rates is one of the priority areas for ensuring children's health. In addition, Russia has a steady positive momentum of the main medical and demographic indicators, as over the period from 2006-2023, the total mortality rate of the population decreased from 15.1 permille to 12.1 permille (by 19.9%). Compared with 2013, the decrease was 0.9 permille (6.9%).

Also, the infant mortality rate in 2023 (4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births) was the lowest since the metric started to be recorded. In 2006, the infant mortality rate was 10.2 permille, and in 2013 8.2 permille. Compared with 2006, the decrease in infant mortality was 58.8%, and compared with 2013, it was 48.8%, which made a significant contribution to life expectancy.

"However, infant mortality remains high in a number of Russian regions. It is necessary to further develop the healthcare system in the field of diagnostics and treatment of neonatal diseases. The decline in mortality allowed for a significant increase in life expectancy at birth: from 66.7 years in 2006 to 70.8 years in 2013 and 73.4 years in 2023," the draft strategy said.

According to the document, life expectancy for men has increased by 7.64 years since 2006 to 68.04 years in 2023. For women, the increase has been less dramatic: by 5.44 years since 2006 to 78.74 years in 2013. This narrowed the gender gap in life expectancy, from 12.9 years in 2006 to 10.7 years in 2023.

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