The Arctic Development Project Office and Lomonosov Moscow State University's community of experts have published the 2023 ranking of development in Arctic regions. Murmansk Region took the top spot, followed by the Sakha Republic, with the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District rounding off the most active entities in the Arctic Zone of the RF. As usual, Murmansk and Yakutia lead the ranking. Since 2018, these two regions have consistently maintained their top positions, while the YNAD competes annually with the Arkhangelsk Region.

The experts highlight a general leveling trend in the development dynamics of regions within the nation's polar region. The Polar Index measures not so much the economic development of a region but rather the standard and quality of living of its inhabitants. It takes into account factors such as satisfaction with government performance at all levels, housing provision, environmental conditions, and several other parameters. The outcome is a comprehensive snapshot of the current development level of each constituent of the AZRF.  

Experts point out that the Murmansk region is currently seen as the pioneer in Arctic development, implementing cutting-edge federal programs and regularly proposing its own initiatives. This year, for example, the Murmansk region's leadership proposed creating a system of support cities in the Arctic, each with its own master plan for development and systematic state support. Yamal, on the other hand, leads in oil and gas production, with numerous major projects already underway, such as the Arctic LNG-2 floating plant that has been towed to the Gydan Peninsula and will soon start producing liquefied gas for transport along the Northern Sea Route. In recent years, Yakutia has significantly boosted its production potential and embarked on major social and infrastructure projects. For example, connecting the district centers of Arctic settlements to fiber-optic internet as part of the Synergy of the Arctic project has resolved long-standing communication issues in remote areas, while the Mobile Doctors program could potentially be expanded across the entire Russian Arctic Circle.

A universal method is used for calculating Arctic regional development indicators, one developed by the UN to evaluate progress in diverse societies worldwide. It comprises three sections — socio-economic, eco-economic, and socio-ecological. Each section carries equal weight in forming the final index, with the evaluation data sourced from published government statistics. In addition to quantitative data, the Polar Index also includes qualitative assessments by experts who provide their opinions on each region's level of development. Ultimately, those entities that can balance industrial development, societal growth, and environmental preservation emerge as the leaders in sustainable development.

Experts underline that Russia's regions have significantly reduced development imbalances and implemented various programs aimed at enhancing people's quality of life, including environmental conservation activities. This is particularly crucial in the context of implementing initiatives like the Arctic Development Strategy 2035 and the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2050. Importantly, in the international context, the AZRF's regions continue to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, added Sergey Nikonorov.