Russia Closes Nearly Half Its Schools Since 2000, Rural Areas Hit Hardest

Since 2000, Russia's number of secondary schools has dropped by about 45%, from 68,800 to under 38,000 in 2026. Rural areas faced the steepest decline, with state schools falling from over 45,000 to around 21,000. Urban schools also decreased but less sharply. Meanwhile, the school-age population fell only 13.5%. Average students per school rose from 300 to 470, linked to a 2001 education optimization program.

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