Almost 100 children a day: Dagestan leads in birth rate despite overall decline

 

In the first six months of 2026, 18,103 children were born in Dagestan—an average of almost 100 newborns daily, according to Muminat Kharkharova, chief specialist for reproductive health at the republic's Ministry of Health.

At the same time, large-scale reproductive health screenings are ongoing in the region. Women and men aged 18 to 49 are eligible for free screening. Since the beginning of the year, 178,500 residents of the republic have already taken advantage of this opportunity.

According to Kharkharova, a unified monitoring system has been created to monitor the program, collecting data from medical organizations and the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. This allows for an assessment of the effectiveness of reproductive health measures.

At the same time, doctors point out an unresolved issue. While women typically undergo the full screening, men are significantly less likely to complete the second stage of the screening. The Ministry of Health believes that male involvement remains one of the weak points in preventive efforts.

With a population of approximately 3.26 million, Dagestan is the largest republic in the North Caucasus. Despite continued natural growth, the region is also experiencing a gradual decline in the birth rate. According to the regional fertility improvement program, the total fertility rate in the republic has decreased from 1.98 in 2016 to 1.72 in 2024. However, the region remains one of the country's leaders in terms of the number of births.

Последние новости
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
Human rights
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
23 August 2026

Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).
Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
Politics
Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
23 August 2026

Azerbaijan intends to continue developing relations with Russia, despite the deteriorating media narrative surrounding Baku in Russian outlets. Rahman Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia, stated this in an interview with RTVI.
Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
Politics
Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
23 August 2026

Wildfires broke out in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions due to falling drone debris. In the Rostov region, the railway overhead power line was also damaged, while in the Kuban region, three people—including two children—were killed in an attack the previous day.
Case over children’s poisoning in Dagestan reaches court
Society
Case over children’s poisoning in Dagestan reaches court
22 August 2026

In Dagestan’s Karabudakhkent District, a criminal case against the head of the private Chudo kindergarten in the village of Paraul, where 10 children suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in February, has been sent to court, the republic’s prosecutor’s office said.
The woman is accused of providing services that failed to meet safety requirements for consumers’ lives and health. The case will be heard by the Karabudakhkent District Court.