Photo: Strokin.ru derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Russia: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Russia is placed 73rd of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 73.15 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 5.173 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
73rd
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 73.15Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 5.173Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- —Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024No reading for this country
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Russia on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
73.15
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Russia: 73.15. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 79.83 Czechia
- Land neighbours
- Azerbaijan 74.43 · Belarus 74.43 · China 77.95 · Estonia 79.15 · Finland 81.91 · Georgia 74.5 · Kazakhstan 74.4 · Lithuania 76.03 · Latvia 76.19 · Mongolia 71.73 · Norway 83.31 · Poland 78.63 · North Korea 73.64 · Ukraine 73.42
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
5.173
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Russia: 5.173. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 2.331 Belarus
- Land neighbours
- Azerbaijan 17.89 · Belarus 2.331 · China 5.724 · Estonia 2.016 · Finland 2.352 · Georgia 8.595 · Kazakhstan 9.437 · Lithuania 3.377 · Latvia 2.501 · Mongolia 13.42 · Norway 2.487 · Poland 4.221 · North Korea 16.67 · Ukraine 7.888
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Russia, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 1.046 Poland
- Land neighbours
- Azerbaijan 6.554 · Belarus 1.2 · China 4.8 · Estonia 1.212 · Finland 2.8 · Georgia 5.763 · Kazakhstan 8.036 · Lithuania 1.036 · Latvia 0.518 · Mongolia 8.8 · Poland 1.046 · North Korea 19.1 · Ukraine 22.85
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Russia, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 1.3 Slovakia
- Land neighbours
- Azerbaijan 1.5 · Estonia 1.9 · Finland 2.9 · Georgia 5.1 · Lithuania 1.2 · Latvia 1.8 · Mongolia 0.6 · Norway 1.5 · Ukraine 5.4
02Over time
Which way Russia is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
RussiaWorld median
Russia rose from 65 in 2000 to 73.15 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Russia World median 2023 73.15 74.630 2022 72.52 74.313 2021 69.81 72.433 2020 71.17 73.063 2019 73.07 74.196 2018 72.94 74.081 2017 72.85 74.029 2016 71.91 74.013 2015 71.34 73.783 2014 70.80 73.330 2013 70.64 73.386 2012 70.12 73.210 2011 69.73 73.003 2010 68.15 72.827 2009 68.66 72.426 2008 67.86 72.264 2007 67.47 72.113 2006 66.55 72.027 2005 65.22 71.876 2004 65.15 71.477 2003 64.72 71.409 2002 64.73 71.173 2001 65.02 70.926 2000 65.00 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
RussiaWorld median
Russia fell from 19.38 in 2000 to 5.173 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Russia World median 2024 5.2 14.5 2023 5.3 15.2 2022 5.4 14.7 2021 5.5 15.1 2020 5.7 15.3 2019 6.0 15.7 2018 6.4 16.3 2017 6.9 16.8 2016 7.5 17.5 2015 8.2 17.9 2014 8.9 18.3 2013 9.5 18.7 2012 9.9 18.8 2011 10.2 19.0 2010 10.4 19.2 2009 10.7 20.8 2008 11.3 20.7 2007 12.0 21.8 2006 12.8 22.8 2005 13.9 24.0 2004 15.0 25.9 2003 16.1 26.9 2002 17.3 28.0 2001 18.4 29.1 2000 19.4 30.4 Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Population in severe food insecurity (%) · lower is better
RussiaWorld median
Russia fell from 0.7 in 2015 to 0.6 in 2017; the world median went from 3.4 to 4.
Every year’s figures
Year Russia World median 2024 — 4.9 2023 — 4.7 2022 — 5.4 2021 — 5.7 2020 — 5.6 2019 — 5.0 2018 — 4.2 2017 0.6 4.0 2016 0.7 3.4 2015 0.7 3.4
03In context
Russia beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Russia and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Norway | 9th | 83.308 | 2.487 | — | 1.5 |
 Estonia | 16th | 79.154 | 2.016 | 1.212 | 1.9 |
 Finland | 18th | 81.910 | 2.352 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
 Polandcompare | 20th | 78.633 | 4.221 | 1.046 | — |
 Lithuania | 25th | 76.025 | 3.377 | 1.036 | 1.2 |
 Latvia | 27th | 76.190 | 2.501 | 0.518 | 1.8 |
 Belarus | =34th | 74.434 | 2.331 | 1.2 | — |
 Chinacompare | 47th | 77.953 | 5.724 | 4.8 | — |
 Mongolia | 71st | 71.734 | 13.42 | 8.8 | 0.6 |
 Azerbaijan | 72nd | 74.429 | 17.89 | 6.554 | 1.5 |
| Russia | 73rd | 73.154 | 5.173 | — | — |
 Georgia | 74th | 74.497 | 8.595 | 5.763 | 5.1 |
 Kazakhstan | 75th | 74.402 | 9.437 | 8.036 | — |
 Ukraine | 97th | 73.423 | 7.888 | 22.85 | 5.4 |
 North Korea | 115th | 73.642 | 16.67 | 19.1 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Russia in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Russia is ahead of the world, and behind
43 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median26
Statistics on which Russia does better than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.92.620.9▲ Improved since 2015
Russia: 2.6 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 129th of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,5782,982No real change since 2014
Russia: 3,578 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 17th of 155 · derived.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1341.9998.134▲ Improved since 2014
Russia: 1.999 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 177th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909790No real change since 2015
Russia: 97 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Russia: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919791▲ Improved since 2015
Russia: 97 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.264.13212.26▲ Improved since 2014
Russia: 4.132 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 159th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1633.1668.163▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 3.166 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 159th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.659.446.65▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 9.4 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 151st of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.6810.564▲ Improved since 2010
Russia: 0.681 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 41st of 172 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.1690.351▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 0.169 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 45th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.217.26810.21No real change since 2010
Russia: 7.268 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 116th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.220.25No real change since 2014
Russia: 0.22 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.8320.762▼ Worsened since 2013
Russia: 0.832 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 64th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.4612.9727.46▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 12.97 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 149th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8581.8182.858▲ Improved since 2014
Russia: 1.818 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 134th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4511.114.45▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 11.1 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 146th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.998.796.9No earlier reading
Russia: 98.7 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.412.426.4No real change since 2017
Russia: 12.4 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 94th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.399.799.3▼ Worsened since 2013
Russia: 99.7 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 31st of 84 · derived.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2575.171.25▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 75.1 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 76th of 196 · derived.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.480.563.48No real change since 2015
Russia: 0.56 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413841▼ Worsened since 2012
Russia: 38 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3917.1216.39▲ Improved since 2013
Russia: 17.12 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 94th of 222 · derived.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5463.323.546No earlier reading
Russia: 3.32 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 93rd of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69106.74102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Russia: 106.74 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Russia does worse than the middle country measured.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8373.184.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Russia: 73.1 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.59.5135.5No real change since 2014
Russia: 9.513 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 41st of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7201.79133.7No real change since 2013
Russia: 201.79 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 50th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.952552.95No earlier reading
Russia: 25 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 128th of 136 · derived.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0055.32.005▼ Worsened since 2013
Russia: 5.3 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6544.6377.65No earlier reading
Russia: 44.63 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 137th of 144 · derived.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35921272.35No earlier reading
Russia: 921 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8384.7757.83Moved since 2013
Russia: 84.77 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0528.8120.05No earlier reading
Russia: 28.81 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2549.741.25Moved since 2013
Russia: 49.7 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1722.816.17No real change since 2013
Russia: 22.8 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.442.735.4Moved since 2013
Russia: 42.7 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8938.1938.89No real change since 2015
Russia: 38.19 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 101st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.884.8716.88No earlier reading
Russia: 4.871 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.651320.65No earlier reading
Russia: 13 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.730.781.73Moved since 2014
Russia: 0.78 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 132nd of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.553.394.55Moved since 2017
Russia: 3.39 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
No current reading for Russia
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index (last 2024), Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity (last 2017), Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Violent Discipline of Children. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Russia’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Russia’s 7th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Work & Labour13th of 1824/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 34th of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital42nd of 1963/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture40th of 1844/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality38th of 1593/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade62nd of 1772/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing73rd of 2002/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation66th of 1764/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge83rd of 1984/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience86th of 1934/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 122nd of 1833/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions148th of 1944/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 166th of 1864/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties183rd of 1984/4 keys
- Peace & Securityjoint 171st of 1774/4 keys
No standing on Energy: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Russia can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Europe
San Marino1st2/4 keysHighest in Eastern Europe
Poland20th3/4 keysThis page
Russia73rd2/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Russia and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Russia on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Russia rank on health & wellbeing?
Russia is placed 73rd of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth and Under-Five Mortality Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Russia?
73.15 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Russia?
5.173 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Russia compare with China on health & wellbeing?
China is placed 47th of 200, and Russia 73rd. Life Expectancy at Birth: China 77.95, Russia 73.15; Under-Five Mortality Rate: China 5.724, Russia 5.173.
How have Russia’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 65 in 2000 to 73.15 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 19.38 in 2000 to 5.173 in 2024; Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity fell from 0.7 in 2015 to 0.6 in 2017.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Russia?
No current reading is published for Russia on Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four Visits, Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, HPV Vaccination Coverage, Girls, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five and Violent Discipline of Children. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 43 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Russia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Russia (banner) — Strokin.ru derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Russia: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/russia/health