Dagestan has the fourth highest infant mortality rate in Russia

Eight regions of the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District had infant mortality rates in 2022 that exceeded the national average in Russia. Among these regions, Dagestan had the fourth highest rate.

In June 2021, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin highlighted the ineffectiveness of investing public funds in the development of the North Caucasus Federal District. He noted that the economic indicators of these regions lag behind the national average, citing the infant mortality rate as an example. The rate in the North Caucasus Federal District was 29% higher than the national average.

According to data from Russia's Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System, Dagestan, Chechnya and the Astrakhan region were among the top twenty regions in terms of infant mortality (number of deaths per thousand newborns) in 2022, according to Kavkaz.Realii. Dagestan had the fourth highest rate with 7.3 deaths per thousand newborns, Chechnya ranked 11th with 6.3 deaths per thousand newborns, and the Astrakhan region ranked 15th with 5.9 deaths per thousand newborns.

The infant mortality rate in Ingushetia (5.4), Rostov Region, Karachay-Cherkessia (5 each), Volgograd Region (4.9) and Stavropol Territory is higher than the national average of 4.6 deaths per thousand newborns, among regions in the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District.

The highest infant mortality rate in Russia is found in Chukotka (16.1), followed by Altai (8.6) and Oryol region (8.4).