Strategic Priorities for Demographic Development of the Russian Far East

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the implementation results of the Far East Demographic Policy Concept through 2025, broken down by demographic parameters (population, total fertility rate, life expectancy, and all-cause mortality). It is shown that forecast values were not achieved for all indicators. The deviations in actual results from planned ones are largely due to the effects of the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which resulted in a sharp increase in mortality and a decrease in life expectancy in 2020-2021. Among the Far Eastern territories, the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) emerged as the most effective region, with the gap between planned and actual indicators being minimal. The new Strategy for Demographic Policy for the Far East through 2030 and into 2036, adopted by the Government of the Russian Federation in February 2026, was reviewed. This demonstrates the continued national priority of socioeconomic development in the Far Eastern macroregion, where demography is a key focus. The new Strategy sets the strategic goal of maintaining demographic potential at the 2023 level, which entails developing existing and implementing new demographic development tools.