All republics of Russia’s North Caucasus rank among the worst performers in salary growth, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Kavkaz Realii reports, citing new data.
The study, conducted by the state-owned RIA Rating based on figures from Rosstat, examines purchasing power, inflation, and other economic indicators to estimate how long it would take for half of a region’s population to earn at least 200,000 rubles per month.
The findings show the slowest progress in the North Caucasus, with Ingushetia, Chechnya, and Dagestan at the bottom of the ranking.
In Ingushetia, it would take an estimated 22 years for half of the population to reach the 200,000 ruble threshold. In Chechnya, the figure stands at 19 years, and in Dagestan, 15.5 years.
Other North Caucasus regions also show weak results. In Kabardino-Balkaria, the target could be reached in at least 14 years. North Ossetia and Kalmykia follow at 13 years, while Karachay-Cherkessia stands at 12.5 years and Stavropol Krai at 11.5 years.
By contrast, the fastest salary growth is recorded in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where the same income level could be reached in under six years.
Labor market data also highlights structural challenges. Ingushetia has the highest unemployment rate in Russia, with roughly one in four residents out of work. Four other North Caucasus regions are also among the worst-performing areas by this indicator.
Official statistics further show that Ingushetia ranked second from the bottom in Russia’s 2025 quality of life index. The data points to low incomes, high unemployment, and significant reliance on federal subsidies.
