This paper presents the theoretical and methodological approaches to the assessment of damage from
premature mortality and reduction of life expectancy due to various reasons. The concepts measuring the
price of a human life are analyzed: the evaluation from the standpoint of the theory of human capital; indirect
estimation taking into account non-monetary social costs; evaluation of individuals’ willingness to pay
for the elimination of the risk of death; estimation based on the determination of insurance premiums and
compensations under court decision; evaluation of the social investments, aimed to reduce the risk of premature
mortality of the individual. The following indexes were calculated for all subordinate entities of the
Russian Federation: reduction of life expectancy, lost years of potential life in the working age, and gross regional
product lost due to the reduction of years of potential life in the working-age population as a result
of cancer