Due to the high mortality rate of the population and its laboring part the problem of infant mortality in Russia is given inadequate attention. The study of infant mortality is complicated by the lack of comprehensive statistic data. This is a topical issue for the Republic of Kalmykia as well. The article analyzes the statistical data of infant mortality for the 2002-2013 period published in annual abstracts of statistics, on the official website of the Territorial Department of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Republic of Kalmykia provided to the author by the agency. Mortality rates indicate a favorable tendency a reduction of mortality among children under the age of 17 years between 2002 and 2013. Considering the structure of mortalityб it is possible to point out one of the main reasons «external causes of death». It is also possible to talk about the predominance of the following causes of death: diseases of the nervous system and respiratory diseases. The analysis of age-specific mortality rates in different age groups suggests a high level of mortality among children under 1 year and children aged 15-19. The main causes of infant mortality can be infectious and parasitic diseases, diseases of the nervous system, respiratory diseases, congenital abnormalities, conditions originating in the perinatal period, accidents, poisonings and traumas. The latter group is one of the leading causes of death among children under 1 year. The study of infant mortality in Kalmykia allows to outline positive and negative tendencies. The former include infant and child mortality rate reduction in general. The negative tendencies are characterized by a high mortality rate among children aged 15-19 and high ratio of mortality from external causes.

Проблема детской смертности остается малоизученной областью. Статистические данные свидетельствуют о наличии как позитивных, так и негативных тенденций в Республике Калмыкия. В статье рассмотрены возрастные коэффициенты смертности детей до 17 лет, основные причины младенческой и детской смертности. Обращает на себя внимание снижение детской смертности в целом в период с 2002 по 2013 гг. Одной из главных причин смерти детей до 1 года является смертность от «состояний, возникающих в перинатальном периоде», а детей до 17 лет от «внешних причин».