In the article, the authors investigate the features of human capital and the mutual influence of its elements on the socio-economic development of depressed regions of the Russian Federation. Based on the cost method and the main components method, the individual components of the human development Index were evaluated among 83 regions of Russia according to official data for 21 indicators for 2016. In the calculations of the components of the human development Index, the features of the factors affecting long-term development for the Pskov region in a cluster of six other lagging Russian regions are revealed. The lowest and most critical values of achievements in the development of human capital in depressed regions were noted in order to apply situational and proactive approaches in management, reduce development barriers and influence vectors that are associated with regional stability in the long term.