Putin’s Birthday Gift to Himself: Living Longer Than You, Comrade

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin turned 74, significantly surpassing the average male life expectancy in Russia, which is around 68 years, with many regions reporting even lower figures.
• Life expectancy for Russian men is alarmingly low due to factors including war casualties in Ukraine, high rates of drug deaths, HIV, alcoholism, and poor health conditions, with the war contributing heavily to the loss of working-age men.
• Despite some progress in reducing alcohol consumption during Putin's rule, recent crises like COVID-19 and the ongoing war have reversed gains in public health, leading to stagnation or decline in life expectancy.
• The Kremlin has become increasingly secretive about health data and demographic statistics, reflecting the internal challenges posed by the war and public health issues, while also facing international pressure over transparency regarding a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak.
• Putin’s government has set ambitious goals to raise life expectancy to 78 by 2030 through the "Long and Active Life" project, but current mortality trends, especially among young and middle-aged men, make this target difficult to achieve.