Russia: Population and Ethnic Groups

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia experienced a decline in population. The decline was due in part to the difficult economic conditions the nation endured, especially in the 1990s, which led to a low birth rate, a reduced male life expectancy, and emigration. The population drop was slowed somewhat by immigration consisting mainly of ethnic Russians from other areas of the former Soviet Union. The decline has continued, albeit more moderately, during the early 21st cent.

There are at least 60 different recognized ethnic groups in Russia, but the vast majority of the population are Russians (80%). There are also Ukrainians (2%) and such non-Slavic linguistic and ethnic groups as Tatars (4%), Bashkirs, Chuvash, Komi, Komi-Permyaks, Udmurts, Mari, Mordovians, Jews, Germans, Armenians, and numerous groups in the Far North and in the Caucasus. Russian is the official language.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Russo-Ukrainian War
• Post-Soviet Russia
• War and Revolution
• Reaction, Reform, and RevolutionExpansion
• Empire and European Eminence
• Consolidation of the Russian State
• Early Russia
• History
• Government
• Russian Far East
• Northern and Northeastern Siberia
• Eastern Siberia
• Western Siberia
• Ural Area
• North Caucasus
• Volga
• North and Northwest European Area
• Central European Area
• General
• Religion and Education
• Political Subdivisions and Major Cities
• Population and Ethnic Groups
• Major Geographic Features
• Bibliography

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