One of the issues discussed on April 17, 2026 at the meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in Moscow was the announcement of 2028 in the Commonwealth as the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life. The draft decision, approved by the heads of the foreign ministries, is expected to be submitted to the Council of Heads of State of the CIS in the autumn of this year.
The adoption of such a decision is quite natural, since for the CIS member states, ensuring the rights of citizens to a decent life has always been at the epicenter of domestic politics. Moreover, despite global economic turbulence and sanctions pressure, throughout the Commonwealth it is possible not only to maintain, but also to increase the level of material well-being of citizens and their social services. In particular, this is shown in the data published in the report of the Interstate Statistical Committee of the CIS “The socio-economic situation of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States in 2025”.
By the end of 2025, almost all CIS countries have achieved an increase in the monetary incomes of the population. The Republic of Tajikistan (15.8%) and the Republic of Uzbekistan (10.8%) became the leaders in the growth of real wages, calculated taking into account rising prices, inflation and taxes. High rates were also obtained in the Kyrgyz Republic (9.9%) and the Republic of Belarus (9.0%).
The trend of pension growth, taking into account the consumer price index, is also typical for almost all CIS member states. The highest rates of income growth for pensioners are in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Traditionally, much attention is paid to the expansion of social infrastructure, the commissioning of educational, healthcare and social facilities. All this put emphasis on the pronounced social orientation of the policy of the Commonwealth countries.
The initiative to announce the thematic Year of Social Development and Quality of Life in the CIS came from the Kyrgyz Republic. Its implementation will contribute to deepening cooperation between the Commonwealth countries in the social sphere, strengthening socio-demographic potential, ensuring effective employment and improving the quality of life.
In order to make the events of the thematic year systematic and purposeful, it is panned that the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Population of the CIS member states will develop an appropriate Plan. According to the Plan documents in the social and labor sphere will be improved and updated, social communication will be expanded, pilot projects will be implemented and best practices of social support for the population will be popularized, international forums and dialogue platforms on topical issues of legal, socio-economic and socio-demographic policy will be held.
In general, the cooperation of the CIS member states in the social and labor sphere is significant support in achieving their balanced social development and improving the quality of life throughout the Commonwealth.