Mortality due to malignant neoplasms was studied in the Republic of Altai (RA) in 1993-1998. Males and females in RA die from cancer at a younger age than those in other regions of Russia. By the main cancer sites, the mean age of deceased males is 2.3-9.1 years less than that of females. Comparison of mortality rates in Russia and RA revealed increased proportion of cancer of the trachea, bronchus, lung in males and females, as well as greater proportion of gastric cancer in males and of esophageal cancer in females. Maps of the standardized index of cancer mortality was made, which clearly show the distribution of mortality rates by the administrative RA districts. High cancer risk districts were identified due to the ranging the territory by the rates of deaths from all cancer sites, from cancer of the trachea, bronchus, lung, stomach, liver, blood, and lymphatic.