The Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) is against increasing the upper age limit for youth from 35 to 40 years old. According to the head of the agency, Grigory Gurov, providing life navigation support to individuals in their forties is inappropriate.

Gurov stated that Rosmolodezh believes 35 is an adequate age for young people, as by this stage, individuals typically mature, establish families, and gain clarity about their identities and aspirations.

He emphasized that many of Rosmolodezh’s initiatives focus on helping young people understand their desired paths and professions. Extending the age limit to 40 would be misdirected, as it involves guiding individuals who should already have a sense of direction.

In 2020, a law was enacted in Russia, signed by President Vladimir Putin, raising the youth age limit from 30 to 35 years inclusive.

Valery Fedorov, Director General of the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, suggested last year that the youth age could potentially be raised to at least 38 within the next decade, indicating the state’s willingness to expand support for young Russians.

In contrast, Russian Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko noted that, according to updated WHO data, individuals aged 18 to 44 are considered young people, supporting the idea of raising the age of youth to 44 as a “quite rational” proposal.