Chechnya and Ingushetia have ranked among the lowest Russian regions by the share of workers earning more than the national average. In both republics, only 5.8% of employees earn above the country's average salary, according to a study by RIA Novosti.
North Caucasus regions as a whole were concentrated near the bottom of the ranking. In Kabardino-Balkaria, 7.9% of workers earn more than the national average, placing the republic 83rd. Dagestan ranked one place higher, with 8.6%.
Karachay-Cherkessia ranked 79th, with 11.1% of workers earning above the national average. North Ossetia was 78th, at 11.2%. The best result among North Caucasus regions was recorded by Stavropol Krai, where 12.8% of workers earn above the national average, placing it 76th.
Low figures were also recorded in several regions of the Southern Federal District. Kalmykia ranked 81st, with 9.1% of workers earning above the national average. Krasnodar Krai performed significantly better, ranking 66th with a share of 17%.
The proportion of workers earning more than twice the national average is even lower across the North Caucasus. In Chechnya and Ingushetia, the figure is 0.9% in each region; in Kabardino-Balkaria it is 1%, in Dagestan 1.2%, North Ossetia 1.4%, Karachay-Cherkessia 1.6% and Stavropol Krai 1.9%.
The figure stands at 1.1% in Kalmykia and 2.8% in Krasnodar Krai.
The RIA Novosti ranking is based on the share of workers whose salaries exceed the national average. The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug took first place. The top positions were dominated by resource-rich northern regions, where wages are boosted by the oil, gas and mining industries.
For comparison, the average monthly salary in Russia's North Caucasus Federal District was 55,200 roubles in 2025, compared with more than 100,000 roubles nationwide.
Within the district, Stavropol Krai had the highest average salary, at 63,700 roubles. The figure was 53,700 roubles in North Ossetia, while some of the lowest levels were recorded in Chechnya, at 46,700 roubles, and Ingushetia, at about 44,000 roubles.
