Russia's 10,000-step campaign aims to extend lives nationwide

Russia has launched a nationwide push to boost life expectancy through physical activity. The 10,000 Steps to Life campaign, part of the broader Healthy Municipality programme, encourages daily walking to meet WHO guidelines. Over a million people took part in its events during 2021–22 alone.

The campaign began in 2015 under the slogan Optimal Health at Minimal Cost. It promotes walking as the simplest way to stay active, targeting 6,000 to 10,000 steps per day. By 2023, more than 1,500 Russian cities and regions had joined the linked Healthy Municipality initiative.

Volunteers across Russia and the CIS can register to help organise events. Russian participants even earn verified volunteer hours for their involvement. The effort is also listed as a *good deed* on the *Dobro.ru* platform. This push ties into Russia's *Long and Active Life* national project. The goal is to raise average life expectancy to 78 by 2030 and have 15% of the population living healthily by 2036.

The campaign's scale is clear, with over a million participants in recent years. Authorities continue expanding the programme, linking it to broader health targets. Organisers stress that walking remains the easiest way for people to improve their wellbeing.