Territorial Differences in Mortality and Mortality Risk Factors in Russia

This study discloses risk factors in territories with high population mortality rates. The study consists of two phases: in phase one, the list of such territories is determined by estimating regional standardized mortality coefficients (SMC); in phase two, a statistical estimation of mortality risk factors is made. The final sample includes 18 territories with high mortality rates. A panel data analysis is made for selected territories for identifying high population mortality risk factors. Three classes of indicators are used as explanatory variables: socioeconomic characteristics, medical and organizational measures, and public safety indicators for the period from 2010 to 2023. According to the study results, the specific proportion of urban population (for men) and a rise in the number of doctors have the greatest influence on the mortality rate reduction. A rise in mortality rates is caused by an uneven distribution of household income (high values of Gini’s coefficient) and by crime situation changes (an increased number of grievous and extremely grievous crimes).