Infant mortality declining in Stavropol Territory, but births also falling
The infant mortality rate in the Stavropol Territory continues to decline — at least according to official statistics. This follows from a written response that the editorial office of 26.ru received from the Ministry of Health of the Stavropol Territory to an official request.
According to the department«s operational data, in 2025, the infant mortality rate was 3.7 cases per 1,000 live births; in 2024, this figure was 5.1 per 1,000, and in 2016 — 8.4 per 1,000.
Thus, the rate fell by 27.4% over the year and by 55.9% over nine years.
Infant mortality — the number of children who die before reaching one year of age per 1,000 live births. One of the basic demographic indicators.
If we translate the statistics from percentages into specific lives, the picture looks like this:
2016
According to Rosstat (Russian Federal State Statistics Service), 36,336 children were born in the Stavropol Territory. With a rate of 8.4 per 1,000, this means approximately 305 infant deaths.
2024
According to the Stavropol Territory Civil Registry Office, more than 23,000 children were born in the region. With a mortality rate of 5.1 per 1,000 — this is roughly 117 cases of infant death.
2025
Over the year, about 15,000 newborns were registered in the territory (data from the regional Civil Registry Office). With a rate of 3.7 per 1,000 — approximately 55–56 infants died last year. The Ministry of Health emphasizes: the data is operational, and final statistics will be compiled no earlier than 15 June 2026. Most likely, all figures will increase.
The regional Ministry of Health notes that infant mortality rates do not exceed the forecast values of the regional project «Protection of Motherhood and Childhood,» and from 2019 to 2024, they «varied within insignificant limits» and correspond to the goals of the project «Development of Child Healthcare, Including the Creation of a Modern Infrastructure for Providing Medical Care.»
In other words, according to reports — stability and positive dynamics. However, there is a nuance. Infant mortality in the territory is indeed decreasing. But along with it, the number of births itself is also declining — from 36 thousand children in 2016 to 23 thousand — in 2024; over 9 years, the number of newborns has decreased by 37%. And judging by preliminary statistics for 2025, the situation is not going to improve.
In early January, 9 infants died within a few days at maternity hospital No. 1 in Novokuznetsk (Kemerovo Region). The head physician of the maternity hospital and his deputy are under arrest. A special commission of experts is investigating the causes of the tragedy.
Earlier, our website published a column «If maternity hospitals weren»t so scary, we«d give birth more often» — the opinion of a mother of two about what really hinders the growth of the birth rate.
In addition, we published material «Right after birth, they immediately asked about a »gratuity«», which collected the most vivid and frank reviews from women about maternity hospitals in Stavropol. A 26.ru correspondent studied patients« opinions on Yandex.Maps — and they turned out to be far from unambiguous.
Against the backdrop of these publications, the editorial office also calculated how much money is spent on the obstetric care system in the region. According to data from the government procurement website, in 2025, at least 354 million rubles ($4.3 million at current rates) were allocated for the repair and equipment of perinatal centers in Stavropol.
