For the economic security of the country, it is necessary to promote the sustainable and balanced spatial development of the Russian Federation. In this regard, the formation and preservation of the human capital of the population in depressed areas is of particular importance. They often become regions-drivers of quantitative reproduction of the population, and are also characterized by the presence of growth zones. The purpose of this work is to identify subjective assessments of the problems, opportunities and prospects for the development of human capital in territories lagging behind in many socio-economic indicators (depressed territories). The analysis of statistical data made it possible to identify such territories in the Perm region. During the study, Mixed Methods Research was used, including a semi-formalized interview of civil servants and a quota questionnaire survey of the population of a depressed area. In the course of the questionnaire survey, it was revealed that residents negatively assess local medicine, highlighting a number of problems in this area: lack of medical personnel, closure of healthcare facilities, and poor material and technical security. The population is satisfied with the quality and accessibility of the education system. In both areas, most of the respondents negatively assess the changes that have taken place over the past 15 years. Received approving assessments of the accessibility and quality of sports infrastructure. An analysis of the reproductive attitudes of the population of the depressed territory showed a favorable attitude towards the birth of children. Three-quarters of respondents attributed the search for work due to the high level of unemployment to the factors that encourage the departure of residents from the Komi-Permyak District. The results of the expert interview generally confirm the conclusions that were made during the questionnaire survey. Additionally, a number of problems were voiced that were not addressed in the survey: the logistics of patients, excessive state support contributes to the development of dependency, the lack of a differentiated approach to subsidizing agriculture, the transportation of students to the place of study, the study of the Komi-Permyak language contributes to the knowledge of the world around and overcoming the conformity of the population. Promising sectors of the Komi-Permyak economy are agriculture, logging and woodworking. It is concluded that subjective assessments of the conditions for the formation of human capital turned out to be due to the objective characteristics of the study area.