In 2024, the number of Russians committed to a healthy lifestyle increased by 6%, reaching 11.8 million people, according to recent data. This marks the second consecutive year of growth following a decline in 2022, though the figures remain below pre-pandemic levels.
The most significant growth in strict adherence to healthy habits was observed in Adygea, where the number of health-conscious individuals surged more than sevenfold. Other regions showing notable increases include Magadan, the Jewish Autonomous Region, Ulyanovsk, Kaliningrad, Karachay-Cherkessia, Primorsky Krai, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, and Belgorod, with growth rates ranging from two to four times.
Adygea leads the nation, with 36.9% of its population aged 15 and older following healthy lifestyle principles. Conversely, the Nenets Autonomous District saw the sharpest decline, with the number of strict adherents dropping 14-fold. Other regions with negative trends include Udmurtia, Yamalo-Nenets, Murmansk, Pskov, Ivanovo, North Ossetia, Bryansk, Lipetsk, and Sakhalin, where adherence rates fell by 1.5 to 2 times.
Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia, Chechnya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Chuvashia, Tuva, North Ossetia, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Tatarstan, and Ingushetia have the highest proportions of health-conscious individuals. In contrast, the Chukotka Autonomous District, Altai Republic, Yakutia, Moscow, Volgograd, Sverdlovsk, Murmansk, Moscow Region, Amur Region, and Khabarovsk Krai have the lowest rates.
Analysts define healthy lifestyle adherents as individuals who consume significant amounts of fruits and vegetables, limit salt and alcohol intake, avoid smoking, and engage in daily physical activity. As of 2024, this group represents 9.7% of the population aged 15 and older.
Despite the positive trend, 38% of Russians remain indifferent to their health, a figure unchanged from the previous year. Notably, only half of this group—22.5 million people—are tobacco users. Women are 1.7 times more likely than men to embrace healthy living, according to the data.
