As a result of 1990s and 2000s reforms rural areas have dramatically changed in quantitative and qualitative terms. The given article analyzes statistical indicators that characterize the life of rural inhabitants of the Republic of Kalmykia. The data reveals the ageing of rural population: agricultural sector employs mainly people over 50. Young people leave rural areas settling outside Kalmykia. The main causes of migration are low income, lack of jobs and a lack of social infrastructure. Rural population decrease on the territory of Kalmyk Republic in 2010s is uneven and varies on a village and social and demographic group size. Gender disparity as an object of investigation of the article (in a village there are more working-age men than women) exacerbates not only demographic processes but also various social problems associated with deviant behavior (alcoholism, crime). The number of unmarried male village inhabitants is prevalent that female of the same group. The author raises urgent issues with an acute social orientation as their solution will have an impact both on rural inhabitants and ethnic group as a whole.