Russian Short-Term Mortality Fluctuations Database: An Instrument to Examine the Impact of External Shocks and Pandemics at Subnational Level

Vera Sokolova, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Aleksey Shchur, National Research University Higher School of Economics
Egor Sergeev, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow
Sergey Timonin, Australian National University

The Russian Short-Term Mortality Fluctuations Data Series (RuSTMF) offers a comprehensive weekly dataset on mortality rates across Russia from 2000 to 2021, providing insights into short-term mortality variations influenced by events such as epidemics, heatwaves, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed by the HSE University in collaboration with international partners, the RuSTMF was designed to address gaps in existing mortality data, which became particularly evident during the COVID-19 crisis. The dataset includes both crude and age-standardized death rates for men, women, and the total population across Russian regions, with data sourced from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). It allows for detailed regional analysis of mortality trends and is accessible through an open-source CSV format for statistical analysis. The series supports research on the impact of socio-economic, political, and environmental factors on short-term mortality trends and provides a valuable tool for policymakers, researchers, and public health authorities. The RuSTMF is part of a broader initiative to monitor and forecast life expectancy in Russia and has been developed using standardized demographic methods to ensure accurate, comparable data. A visualization tool for the dataset is available on the R Shiny platform.

Keywords: Data and Methods, Mortality and Longevity, Population, Shocks and Pandemics

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