Suicide in Russia
For decades, the Russian Empire and early Soviet Union kept no complete record of suicides. Studies covered only individual cities or specific regions during that time. Later efforts focused on urban populations alone. A total count for the entire country did not exist until 1956 under Nikita Khrushchev. This shift marked a turning point in how the state tracked mortality data. Before this date, historians could only estimate numbers based on fragmented local reports.
Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in May 1985 with an anti-alcohol campaign. The number of suicides fell for a couple of years following these partial prohibitions. However, the deterioration of the socio-economic situation by the end of the 1980s reversed the trend completely. The dissolution of the Soviet Union brought market reforms and conflict like the First Chechen War. Falling incomes among the population resulted in increased suicide mortality reaching peak levels in 1994 and 1995.
Heavy alcohol use is a significant factor in the suicide rate with an estimated half of all suicides correlated with alcohol abuse. Russia's suicide rate has declined since the 1990s alongside per capita alcohol consumption despite economic crises. Russians began consuming more beer, wine, and other drinks with less alcohol during recent years. The decline in strong and popular vodka sales mirrors the decrease in the number of suicides in the country. Experts believe alcohol consumption is more of a factor than economic conditions alone.
At the end of 2015, suicide rates rated as high were recorded in 37 of the 85 regions. These areas include the north, the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East. The highest suicide rates appeared in the Altai Republic, the Transbaikal, and Buryatia. Large indigenous populations often reside within these specific geographic zones. Eighteen regions have a suicide rate classified as low including Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
In 2021, the suicide rate in Russia was 10.7 per 100,000 people according to national sources. This figure dropped from 41.4 in 1995 and 39.1 in 2000. Since 2002, the number of suicides has fallen in each consecutive year. The count reached its lowest level in more than 50 years matching figures from 1965 when there were 27,158 suicides. Current statistics show a steady downward trend compared to the mid-1990s peak.
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Common questions
When did the Russian Empire and early Soviet Union start keeping complete records of suicides?
A total count for the entire country did not exist until 1956 under Nikita Khrushchev. Before this date, historians could only estimate numbers based on fragmented local reports.
What happened to suicide rates in Russia after Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in May 1985?
The number of suicides fell for a couple of years following anti-alcohol campaign partial prohibitions implemented by Mikhail Gorbachev. The deterioration of the socio-economic situation by the end of the 1980s reversed the trend completely.
Why is heavy alcohol use considered a significant factor in the suicide rate in Russia?
Heavy alcohol use is a significant factor with an estimated half of all suicides correlated with alcohol abuse. Experts believe alcohol consumption is more of a factor than economic conditions alone.
Which regions recorded high suicide rates at the end of 2015 in Russia?
Suicide rates rated as high were recorded in 37 of the 85 regions including the north, the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East. The highest suicide rates appeared in the Altai Republic, the Transbaikal, and Buryatia.
How many suicides occurred in Russia in 1965 compared to recent statistics?
There were 27,158 suicides in 1965 when figures matched the lowest level reached since that year. In 2021, the suicide rate was 10.7 per 100,000 people according to national sources.