Russian Orphans in Crisis Facts and Figures

• 600,000 children under the care of the state in Russia.
• Of these, 337,527 are housed in baby houses, children's homes, and homes for children with disabilities (includes children living part-time at home).
• The full-time orphan population in institutions is close to 200,000. Of these, at least 30,000 are committed to locked psychoneurological internaty for "ineducable" children.
• The remaining number are placed in alternative custody, including group homes and other guardianship perhaps with members of a child's extended family.
• 70% of the 600,000 children under the care of the state are physically or mentally handicapped.
• The death rate in Russian institutions also is almost twice the rate of the general population (due to overcrowding, poor hygiene...).
• 95 percent of orphans in Russia still have a living parent.
• About 15,000 children leave Russian orphanages each year (once they are 16 to 18 years old).
• Of these, 5,000 are unemployed, some 6,000 are homeless, around 3,000 resort to crime, approximately 1,500 commit suicide, and roughly half the girls are forced into prostitution.
• There were over 700,000 orphans in Russia in 2000. After leaving their orphanages:
  • 50% - fall into a high-risk category
  • 40% - become drug users
  • 40% - commit crimes
  • 10% - commit suicide

Sources: Russian Orphans in Crisis