Dagestan ranks fifth in Russia for the highest number of neglected children, according to recent data. This concerning statistic, published by Russia’s Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System and reported by Kommersant, reveals that 2,411 neglected and homeless children were identified in Dagestan during 2025. This represents a significant increase from the 2,012 recorded in 2024, marking a rise of 399 over the year.
Nationally, Russia’s Interior Ministry identified 57,400 neglected and homeless children in 2025, a 2.1% increase compared to the previous year – the first rise in this indicator in five years. Previously, figures had been declining steadily, reaching 60,700 in 2021, 60,000 in 2022, 56,900 in 2023, and 56,200 in 2024. These neglected children are defined under federal legislation as those temporarily lacking supervision by their parents or guardians, while homeless children lack a fixed residence.
Several regions experienced notable increases. Chelyabinsk saw a dramatic rise from 566 to 2,900, Tuva increased from 1,690 to 3,250, and Novosibirsk rose from 895 to 1,200. Conversely, North Caucasus republics like Adygea (19 in 2025, down from 24) and Ingushetia (49 in 2025, down from 150) recorded substantially lower numbers of neglected children.
A representative from the Arithmetic of Kindness Foundation, Naila Novozhilova, suggests that many of these cases fall under the category of “neglected” rather than “homeless” in the traditional sense, highlighting issues within the system, including insufficient coordination between agencies and challenges within crisis families. The data does not detail the specific reasons for the increase in Dagestan or across the country, nor does it specify influencing factors.
Topics: #neglected #children #daghestan
