About Russia
Russian - the official language, spoken by ~85.7% of the population; a Slavic language written in the Cyrillic alphabet, and dominant in nearly every public sphere.
Tatar (~3.2%) and Chechen (~1%) are spoken by significant minorities.
More than 100 other languages are spoken across Russia, and nearly 200 national/ethnic groups are represented in the census; several regional languages hold official status in their respective republics.
Russian is the sole official language of the Russian Federation nationwide.
| Geography |
Location: Northern Asia and Eastern Europe, bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean; the largest country in the world by land area
Map references: Asia/Europe
Area:
total: 17,098,242 sq km
Geography - note: spans two continents; the Ural Mountains are often viewed as the border between Europe and Asia; over 75% of the population lives in the European quarter of the country
| People |
Population: 140,134,279-146,080,000 (2025 est.; figures vary by source/territory treatment) - 9th most populous country in the world
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73 years
male: 68 years
female: 79 years (2023)
Nationality:
noun/adjective: Russian(s)
Ethnic groups: Russian 71.73-77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9% (2010 census); nearly 200 national/ethnic groups represented
Religions: Russian Orthodox 72%, Muslim 10%, Buddhist 0.7%; Russia officially recognizes Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism; large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers remain a legacy of decades of official Soviet-era atheism
Languages: Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1% (2010 est.); over 100 languages spoken nationally; several hold official status in their respective regions
| Government |
Country name:
conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
Data code: RS
Government type: semi-presidential federation
National capital: Moscow
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Vladimir PUTIN (began fifth term 2024)
head of government: Prime Minister Mikhail MISHUSTIN
| Economy |
Economy - overview: emerging, high-income economy operating under extensive international sanctions related to the war in Ukraine; remains one of the largest economies in the world by GDP despite sanctions; heavily dependent on energy and natural resource exports, creating "resource curse" dynamics that can hinder diversification
GDP (purchasing power parity): $7.53 trillion (2026 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.1% (2026f)
GDP - per capita: $52,479 PPP (2026 est.)
Inflation rate: 5.9% (2025)
Unemployment rate: 2.1% (2025 est.)
Population below poverty line: 11% (2021)
Currency: Russian ruble (RUB)
| Military |
Military branches: Armed Forces of the Russian Federation: Ground Forces, Aerospace Forces, Navy; separate branches include Airborne Forces, Strategic Rocket Forces, Special Operations Forces, Unmanned Systems Forces; Federal National Guard Troops (Rosgvardiya); Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Service (2025)
Military manpower: estimated 1.1-1.2 million active Armed Forces; approximately 350,000 Federal National Guard Troops; estimated 600,000 personnel deployed in Ukraine, plus over 20,000 elsewhere in former Soviet states (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-30 for compulsory service (men); 18-65 for voluntary/contractual service; minimum 12-month obligation (2025)
| Transnational Issues |
Trafficking in persons - tier rating: Tier 3 (2025)