Alcoholism in Russia by year: full statistics and charts
In 2025, Russia recorded 56.9 new cases of alcoholism and alcoholic psychosis per 100 thousand people. In 2010, it was 107.8. Over fifteen years the figure fell by almost half, but 2025 saw a sharp rise for the first time in a long while: 43.4 a year earlier and 56.9 now. The incidence of drug addiction over the same period fell from 17.4 to 7.5 cases. Rosstat data.
Below is the complete series by year, a comparison of alcoholism and drug addiction, regional variation and interactive charts.
Alcoholism in Russia by year
New cases with a first‑time diagnosis per 100 thousand people.
| Year | Alcoholism | Drug addiction |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 107.8 | 17.4 |
| 2012 | 85.6 | 13.8 |
| 2014 | 74.4 | 14.4 |
| 2016 | 64.6 | 11.1 |
| 2018 | 52.4 | 10.1 |
| 2019 | 51.5 | 9.8 |
| 2020 | 40.0 | 8.5 |
| 2021 | 46.0 | 9.4 |
| 2022 | 46.2 | 9.5 |
| 2023 | 45.8 | 8.8 |
| 2024 | 43.4 | 8.1 |
| 2025 | 56.9 | 7.5 |
From 2010 to 2020 the curve moved downward almost continuously, from 107.8 to 40.0 cases, a drop of 2.7 times over ten years. Such a steady trend is rarely accidental: it coincides with a period of stricter alcohol sales regulations and higher excise taxes.
The dip in 2020 is partly explained by the same factors that caused the overall decline in incidence: narcology clinics operated with reduced capacity, and some diagnoses were not made in time. After that, the figure stabilized around 45 cases for four years.
The jump in 2025 stands out from the whole series: an increase of 13.5 points, or 31 percent in one year. Data from a single year do not form a trend, and it is too early to judge a reversal before the next release.
Interactive version: alcoholism incidence by region, 2010–2025.
Drug addiction: decline without rebound
Here the picture is smoother. The indicator fell from 17.4 cases in 2010 to 7.5 in 2025, a decline of 2.3 times.
There was almost no bounce after 2020: a slight rise to 9.5 in 2022 and then down again. In 2025 the minimum for the whole series was recorded.
The difference in the behavior of the two indicators is noticeable especially in the last year: alcoholism jumped by a third, drug addiction continued to decline. It is hard to explain the overall cause, whether a change in methodology or the availability of medical care.
Interactive version: drug addiction incidence by region.
Regional spread is huge
New cases of alcoholism per 100,000 people, 2025.
Highest:
| Region | Indicator |
|---|---|
| Chukotka Autonomous Okrug | 391.4 |
| Pskov Oblast | 288.3 |
| Nenets Autonomous Okrug | 231.5 |
| Mari El Republic | 183.4 |
| Smolensk Oblast | 180.7 |
| Republic of Karelia | 163.4 |
Lowest:
| Region | Indicator |
|---|---|
| Republic of Ingushetia | 0.6 |
| Chechen Republic | 0.8 |
| Sevastopol | 4.7 |
| Republic of Dagestan | 5.8 |
| Krasnodar Krai | 6.2 |
| Leningrad Oblast | 17.5 |
The gap between Chukotka and Ingushetia is more than six hundredfold. Such a difference is not purely medical: it results from real differences in consumption, cultural norms, and how developed and demanded drug addiction accounting is in the region.
In republics with a predominantly Muslim population the indicator has been close to zero for all fifteen years of observation. The Northwestern and Far Eastern regions consistently top the table.
What the indicator does not show
This is primary incidence, i.e., the number of diagnoses made for a person for the first time in life. People who have been registered in previous years are not included in this figure, and the total number of patients is considerably higher.
The indicator depends on health‑seeking behavior. A region with an operating narcology service will detect more cases than a region where there is nowhere to turn. A low value does not always mean that people drink less.
The swings of recent years should be read with caution: in 2020 the registration contracted, in 2025 it rose sharply, and both anomalies may have an organizational rather than a medical nature.
Questions and answers
How many people in Russia develop alcoholism for the first time in a year?
56.9 cases per 100 thousand people in 2025. With a population of about 146 million this is roughly 83 thousand new diagnoses.
Is alcoholism decreasing in Russia?
Over fifteen years the indicator fell from 107.8 to 56.9 cases per 100 thousand, almost by half. But 2025 saw an increase of 31 percent compared to the previous year, and this is the first such jump in the series.
Which region has the highest level?
In the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, 391.4 cases per 100 thousand people. Next are Pskov Oblast (288.3) and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (231.5).
Where is the indicator the lowest?
In the Republic of Ingushetia, 0.6 cases, and in the Chechen Republic, 0.8. The gap with Chukotka is more than six hundredfold.
What is happening with drug addiction?
Incidence is continuously decreasing: 17.4 cases per 100 thousand in 2010 and 7.5 in 2025. The minimum over the entire observation period occurred in the last year.
Why did the indicators drop in 2020?
Because of a reduction in planned medical work. The same decline is seen in overall morbidity, discussed in the material morbidity in Russia by year.
In short
Primary alcoholism incidence in Russia fell from 107.8 to 56.9 cases per 100 thousand people over fifteen years, and drug addiction from 17.4 to 7.5. The decade‑long decline was steady and ended in 2020, after which the indicator stayed around 45 for four years and jumped by a third in 2025. Regional variation remains extreme: from 0.6 cases in Ingushetia to 391.4 in Chukotka.