CapitalMoscow
Population140,134,279
Area17,098,242 km²
GDP per capita$41,700
LanguagesRussian, Tatar, Chechen, other
CurrencyRussian rubles
Life Expectancy72.3 yr
Governmentsemi-presidential federation
Introduction
Background
Established in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy arose following more than 200 years of Mongol rule (13th-15th centuries) and progressively conquered and integrated nearby principalities. In the early 17th century, the newly ascendant ROMANOV dynasty perpetuated this expansionist approach across Siberia towards the Pacific Ocean. Under the leadership of PETER I (1682-1725), dominance was extended to the Baltic Sea, and the state was rebranded as the Russian Empire. Throughout the 19th century, additional territorial gains occurred in both Europe and Asia. The loss in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 was a catalyst for the Revolution of 1905, which brought about the establishment of a parliament and other reforms. Catastrophic defeats and food scarcity during World War I spurred widespread unrest in major cities of the Russian Empire, culminating in the fall of the ROMANOV Dynasty in 1917. The communist faction led by Vladimir LENIN quickly took control and established the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
The harsh regime of Iosif STALIN (1928-53) solidified communist authority and reinforced Russian supremacy within the Soviet Union, resulting in the loss of tens of millions of lives. Following the defeat of Germany in World War II through an alliance with the US (1939-1945), the USSR broadened its territorial claims and influence in Eastern Europe, emerging as a significant global power. The USSR was the primary rival to the US throughout the Cold War (1947-1991). The Soviet economy and society faced stagnation in the years after Stalin's death, until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) implemented glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in a bid to modernize communism. His efforts inadvertently unleashed political and economic dynamics that culminated in the dissolution of the USSR into Russia and 14 other independent nations by December 1991. In light of the subsequent chaos during President Boris YELTSIN's administration (1991-99), Russia transitioned towards a centralized authoritarian regime under President Vladimir PUTIN (2000-2008, 2012-present), where the administration aims to validate its governance through controlled elections, populist strategies, a foreign policy aimed at boosting the nation's geopolitical standing, and an economy reliant on commodities.
In 2014, Russia claimed to annex Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and took control of significant areas in two eastern Ukrainian regions. Over the next eight years of intermittent conflict, over 14,000 civilians were reported killed or injured due to the Russian incursion in eastern Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Russia intensified its hostilities against Ukraine by launching an invasion from multiple fronts, marking the largest conventional military offensive against a sovereign nation in Europe since World War II. This invasion faced widespread international condemnation, leading many nations to impose sanctions on Russia and provide humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. In September 2022, Russia unilaterally announced its annexation of four Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia — despite the fact that none were completely under Russian control. These annexations remain unrecognized by the global community.
Geography
Area
land
16,377,742 sq km
water
720,500 sq km
total
17,098,242 sq km
Climate
The climate transitions from steppes in the southern regions to humid continental in much of European Russia; it is characterized as subarctic in Siberia and tundra in the polar north. Winters range from mild along the Black Sea coast to extremely cold in Siberia, while summers can vary from warm in the steppes to cool by the Arctic coast.
Terrain
A vast plain featuring low hills exists to the west of the Urals, accompanied by extensive coniferous forests and tundra throughout Siberia, with uplands and mountains located along the southern borders.
Land use
other
35.9% (2023 est.)
forest
50.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
13.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Location
North Asia, which borders the Arctic Ocean, stretches from Eastern Europe (specifically the area west of the Urals) to the North Pacific Ocean.
Coastline
37,653 km
Elevation
lowest point
Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point
Gora El'brus (highest point in Europe) 5,642 m
mean elevation
600 m
Irrigated land
43,000 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
The Angara-Lena Basin, Pechora Basin, North Caucasus Basin, East European Aquifer System, West Siberian Basin, Tunguss Basin, and Yakut Basin.
Map references
Asia
Land boundaries
total
22,407 km
border countries
Azerbaijan 338 km; Belarus 1,312 km; China (southeast) 4,133 km and China (south) 46 km; Estonia 324 km; Finland 1,309 km; Georgia 894 km; Kazakhstan 7,644 km; North Korea 18 km; Latvia 332 km; Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 261 km; Mongolia 3,452 km; Norway 191 km; Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 209 km; Ukraine 1,944 km.
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
Permafrost covers a significant portion of Siberia, posing challenges for development; volcanic activity is present in the Kuril Islands, and both volcanoes and earthquakes are found on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Additionally, spring floods and forest fires during summer and autumn affect Siberia and parts of European Russia.
volcanism: The Kamchatka Peninsula is home to 29 historically active volcanoes, with numerous others in the Kuril Islands. Kliuchevskoi (4,835 m) ranks as Kamchatka's most active volcano. The Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes, which threaten the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, have been classified as Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, due to their explosive history and proximity to populated areas. Other notable historically active volcanoes include Bezymianny, Chikurachki, Ebeko, Gorely, Grozny, Karymsky, Ketoi, Kronotsky, Ksudach, Medvezhia, Mutnovsky, Sarychev Peak, Shiveluch, Tiatia, Tolbachik, and Zheltovsky; refer to note 2 under "Geography - note".
Geography - note
note 1: The largest country in the world by area; despite its vastness, much of the nation lacks suitable soil and climate conditions (either too cold or too dry) for agricultural practices.
note 2: Russia's far east, especially the Kamchatka Peninsula, is situated along the Ring of Fire, a region surrounding the Pacific Ocean that encompasses about 75% of the world's volcanoes and nearly 90% of the world's earthquakes.
note 3: Mount El'brus is recognized as the highest peak in Europe; Lake Baikal, the deepest lake worldwide, is estimated to contain one-fifth of the planet's fresh surface water.
note 4: The Kaliningrad Oblast is an exclave that was annexed from Germany post-World War II; its capital, Kaliningrad -- previously known as Koenigsberg -- is the only Baltic Sea port in Russia that remains ice-free during the winter.
Natural resources
An extensive natural-resource base, featuring major oil and natural gas deposits, coal, a variety of strategic minerals, bauxite, and reserves of rare earth elements, as well as timber.
Area - comparative
Approximately 1.8 times larger than the United States.
Geographic coordinates
60 00 N, 100 00 E
Population distribution
The population is predominantly concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Caspian Sea, and extending eastward near the Kazakh border. In other areas, significant population clusters are relatively isolated and primarily located in the south.
Major lakes (area sq km)
salt water lake(s)
Caspian Sea (shared with Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan) - 374,000 sq km; Ozero Malyye Chany - 2,500 sq km; Curonian Lagoon (shared with Lithuania) - 1,620 sq km
note - the Caspian Sea is recognized as the largest lake in the world.
fresh water lake(s)
Lake Baikal - 31,500 sq km; Lake Ladoga - 18,130 sq km; Lake Onega - 9,720 sq km; Lake Khanka (shared with China) - 5,010 sq km; Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Estonia); Ozero Vygozero - 1,250 sq km; Ozero Beloye - 1,120 sq km.
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Arctic Ocean drainage
Kolyma (679,934 sq km), Lena (2,306,743 sq km), Ob (2,972,493 sq km), Pechora (289,532 sq km), Yenisei (2,554,388 sq km)
Pacific Ocean drainage
Amur (1,929,955 sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
(Black Sea) Don (458,694 sq km), Dnieper (533,966 sq km).
Internal (endorheic basin) drainage
(Caspian Sea basin) Volga (1,410,951 sq km).
Major rivers (by length in km)
Yenisey-Angara - 5,539 km; Ob-Irtysh - 5,410 km; Amur river mouth (shared with China [s] and Mongolia) - 4,444 km; Lena - 4,400 km; Volga - 3,645 km; Kolyma - 2,513 km; Ural river source (shared with Kazakhstan [m]) - 2,428 km; Dnepr (Dnieper) river source (shared with Belarus and Ukraine [m]) - 2,287 km; Don - 1,870 km; Pechora - 1,809 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
99.9% (2021 est.)
female
99.9% (2021 est.)
total population
99.9% (2021 est.)
Languages
Languages
Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1% (2010 estimate)
major-language sample(s)
Книга фактов о мире – незаменимый источник базовой информации. (Russian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 estimate)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.95 male(s)/female
total population
0.87 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.52 male(s)/female
Birth rate
8.27 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
13.93 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
39.4 years
total
42.3 years (2025 est.)
female
44.5 years
Population
male
65,166,555
total
140,134,279 (2025 est.)
female
74,967,724
Nationality
noun
Russian(s)
adjective
Russian
Tobacco use
male
40.2% (2025 est.)
total
26.5% (2025 est.)
female
15.1% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
75.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
16.5% (male 11,956,284/female 11,313,829)
15-64 years
65.7% (male 45,007,073/female 47,518,221)
65 years and over
17.8% (2024 est.) (male 8,533,448/female 16,491,955)
Ethnic groups
Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9% (2010 estimate)
Child marriage
women married by age 15
0.3% (2017)
women married by age 18
6.2% (2017)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
52.6 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
24.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
3.6 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
27.9 (2025 est.)
Physician density
5.11 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
7.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
13.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
7 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.52 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 91.5% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 97.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 98.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 8.5% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 2.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 1.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
14.3% national budget (2018 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
7.2 deaths/1,000 live births
total
6.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
5.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
-0.49% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.74 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
the population is primarily located in the westernmost fifth of the nation, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Caspian Sea in the south, and extending eastward adjacent to the Kazakh border; in other regions, significant population clusters are typically isolated and mostly situated in the southern areas
Life expectancy at birth
male
67.4 years
female
77.4 years
total population
72.3 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
9 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 71.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 89.4% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 95.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 28.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 10.6% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 4.6% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.97 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
7.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
3.16 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
12.680 million MOSCOW (capital), 5.561 million Saint Petersburg, 1.695 million Novosibirsk, 1.528 million Yekaterinburg, 1.292 million Kazan, 1.251 million Nizhniy Novgorod (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.1% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
25.2 years (2013 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.6% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
15 years (2023 est.)
total
15 years (2023 est.)
female
15 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
spans from steppes located in the southern regions to a humid continental climate prevalent in much of European Russia; transitions into a subarctic climate in Siberia, and ultimately to tundra conditions in the polar north; winter temperatures range from mild along the Black Sea coast to extremely cold in Siberia; summer temperatures fluctuate from warm in the steppes to cool near the Arctic coastline.
Geoparks
global geoparks and regional networks
Yangan-Tau (2023)
total global geoparks and regional networks
1
Land use
other
35.9% (2023 est.)
forest
50.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
13.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
75.3% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
363.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
4,069.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
13,815.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
1,972.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
60 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
5.3% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
air pollution resulting from significant industrial activities, coal-powered electricity generation, and transit systems within major urban centers; pollution of inland water bodies and coastal areas stemming from industrial, municipal, and agricultural sources; deforestation; soil degradation; contamination of soil due to agricultural chemicals; disposal of nuclear waste; isolated regions with radioactive contamination; groundwater pollution caused by hazardous waste; management of urban solid waste; abandoned pesticide stocks.
Total water withdrawal
municipal
17.15 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
29.03 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
18.64 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
1.844 billion metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
912.076 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
479.311 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
453.103 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
9.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
4.53 trillion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Government
Flag
description: consists of three equal horizontal stripes of white (top), blue, and red
meaning: while the colors may have been inspired by the Dutch flag, there is no official interpretation assigned
history: established when Russia constructed its inaugural naval ships, primarily serving as a naval ensign until the 19th century
Capital
name
Moscow
etymology
derived from the Moskva River; the etymology of the river's name remains uncertain
time zone note
Russia encompasses 11 time zones, the highest number of adjacent time zones of any nation globally; in 2014, two additional time zones were introduced and Daylight Saving Time was abolished
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
does not observe daylight savings time (DST)
geographic coordinates
55 45 N, 37 36 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Russia
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
3-5 years
Constitution
history
multiple prior constitutions (from the Russian Empire and Soviet period); the most recent was drafted on 12 July 1993, approved by referendum on 12 December 1993, and came into effect on 25 December 1993
amendment process
can be proposed by the president of the Russian Federation, either chamber of the Federal Assembly, the government of the Russian Federation, or legislative (representative) bodies of the Federation's constituent entities; amendments regarding the constitutional structure, human and civil rights and freedoms, and processes for amending or composing a new constitution necessitate the establishment of a Constitutional Assembly; a two-thirds majority vote from the total membership is required for such amendments to pass; a referendum's approval requires participation from an absolute majority of eligible voters alongside an absolute majority of valid votes; the endorsement of proposed changes to the governmental framework, powers, and procedures demands consent from the legislative bodies of at least two-thirds of the Russian Federation's constituent entities
Country name
former
Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
etymology
the territories of Russia were known as Muscovy until PETER I proclaimed the Empire of All Russias in 1721; the new designation sought to align the newly defined Russia with European political customs; "Rus" was the Old Finnish term used for Varangians (eastern Vikings) who arrived in the region during the 9th century
local long form
Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form
Rossiya
conventional long form
Russian Federation
conventional short form
Russia
Independence
25 December 1991 (following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; the Russian SFSR was renamed the Russian Federation); significant earlier milestones include: 1157 (formation of the Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal); 16 January 1547 (establishment of the Tsardom of Muscovy); 22 October 1721 (proclamation of the Russian Empire); 30 December 1922 (founding of the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law framework; legislative acts are subject to judicial review
Government type
semi-presidential federation
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of the Russian Federation (composed of 170 members divided into the Judicial Panel for Civil Affairs, the Judicial Panel for Criminal Affairs, and the Military Panel); Constitutional Court (comprises 11 members, including the chair and deputy)
subordinate courts
regional (kray) and provincial (oblast) courts; city courts for Moscow and St. Petersburg; autonomous province and district courts (the 21 Russian republics possess court systems as defined by their respective constitutions)
judge selection and term of office
all members of Russia's three highest courts are nominated by the president and appointed by the Federation Council (the upper house of the legislature); appointments to all three courts are for life
Executive branch
cabinet
the government consists of the premier, his deputies, and ministers, all appointed by the president; confirmation of the premier is also required by the Duma
chief of state
President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 7 May 2012)
election results
2024: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 88.5%, Nikolay KHARITONOV (Communist Party) 4.4%, Vladislav DAVANKOV (New People party) 3.9%, Leonid SLUTSKY (Liberal Democrats) 3.2%
2018: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 77.5%, Pavel GRUDININ (CPRF) 11.9%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 5.7%, other 4.9%; Mikhail MISHUSTIN (independent) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 383 to 0
head of government
Premier Mikhail Vladimirovich MISHUSTIN (since 16 January 2020)
most recent election date
15-17 March 2024
election/appointment process
the president is directly elected through an absolute-majority popular vote in two rounds, if necessary, serving a 6-year term (eligible for a consecutive second term)
expected date of next election
2030
National holiday
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
National color(s)
white, blue, red
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
33 (22 cultural, 11 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments (c); Kizhi Pogost (c); Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow (c); Historic Monuments of Novgorod and Surroundings (c); White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal (c); Architectural Ensemble of the Trinity Sergius Lavra in Sergiev Posad (c); Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye (c); Lake Baikal (n); Volcanoes of Kamchatka (n); Ensemble of the Ferapontov Monastery (c); Historic and Architectural Complex of the Kazan Kremlin (c); Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent (c); Uvs Nuur Basin (n); Ensemble of the Novodevichy Convent (c); Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve (n); Historical Centre of the City of Yaroslavl (c); Lena Pillars Nature Park (n); Bolgar Historical and Archaeological Complex (c); Assumption Cathedral and Monastery of the town-island of Sviyazhsk (c); Churches of the Pskov School of Architecture (c); Petroglyphs of Lake Onega and the White Sea (c); Rock Paintings of Shulgan-Tash Cave (c)
Political parties
A Just Russia for Truth or SRZP
Civic Platform or CP
Communists of Russia or CPCR
Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF
Cossack Party of the Russian Federation or CosPRF
Democratic Party of Russia or DPR
Green Alternative or GA
Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR
New People or NP
Party for Fairness! or PARZAS!
Party of Direct Democracy or PDD
Party of Progress or PP
Party of Pensioners or RPPSJ
Party of Russia's Rebirth or PRR
Party of Social Protection or PSP
Rodina
Russian Ecological Party or The Greens
Russian Party of Freedom and Justice or RPFJ
Russia United Democratic Party or Yabloko
United Russia or UR
Legislative branch
legislature name
Federal Assembly (Federalnoye Sobraniye)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
“Gosudarstvenny Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii” (National Anthem of the Russian Federation)
history
adopted in 2000; Russia incorporated the melody of the Soviet anthem (written in 1939), along with new lyrics; MIKHALKOV, who penned the new lyrics, also composed the Soviet lyrics in 1943
lyrics/music
Sergey Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV/Aleksandr Vasilyevich ALEKSANDROV
National symbol(s)
bear, double-headed eagle
National coat of arms
the current coat of arms for Russia was established by presidential decree on 30 November 1993; the double-headed eagle was embraced as a symbol of Russia in 1472 when Ivan III wed Sophia Palaiologina, the niece of the last Byzantine emperor in Constantinople -- the eagle served as her family emblem
Administrative divisions
46 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respubliki, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous districts (avtonomnyye okrugi, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 federal subjects (kraya, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous province (avtonomnaya oblast')
oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (Gatchina), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl
republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
autonomous districts: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi-Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
federal subjects: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol, Zabaykalsk [Transbaikal] (Chita)
federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg]
autonomous province: Yevreyskaya [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
State Duma (Gossoudarstvennaya Duma)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
450 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
9/19/2021
expected date of next election
September 2026
percentage of women in chamber
16.4%
parties elected and seats per party
United Russia (326); Communist Party (KPRF) (57); A Just Russia (28); Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) (23); Other (16)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Council of the Federation (Soviet Federatsii)
number of seats
170 (all appointed)
percentage of women in chamber
18.5%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 298-5735
chancery
2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone
[1] (202) 298-5700
chief of mission
Ambassador Alexander Nikitich DARCHIEV (since 11 June 2025)
consulate(s) general
Houston, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://washington.mid.ru/en/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[7] (495) 728-5090
embassy
55,75566° N, 37,58028° E
telephone
[7] (495) 728-5000
mailing address
5430 Moscow Place, Washington DC 20521-5430
chief of mission
Ambassador (position vacant); Chargé d’Affaires J. Douglas DYKHOUSE (since June 2025)
consulate(s) general
Vladivostok (suspended status), Yekaterinburg (suspended status)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://ru.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BRICS, BSEC, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN (observer), CICA, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAEU, EAPC, EAS, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-20, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UN Security Council (permanent), UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
has not filed an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$704.613 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$635.809 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$640.878 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$465.22 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$475.277 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$347.384 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$379.659 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$381.45 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
a comprehensive array of mining and extraction sectors producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all varieties of machinery manufacturing ranging from rolling mills to advanced aircraft and space vehicles; defense sector activities (including radar, missile fabrication, advanced electronic components), shipbuilding; transportation equipment for road and rail; communications devices; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction tools; electric power generation and transmission apparatus; medical and scientific equipment; consumer goods, textiles, food items, and handicrafts
Labor force
72.517 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2023
18.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Russian rubles (RUB) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2019
64.738 (2019 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
72.105 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
73.654 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
68.485 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
85.162 (2023 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2022
$135.301 billion (2022 est.)
Economic overview
an economy abundant in natural resources located in Eurasia; a primary energy supplier to Europe and Asia; reduced dependence on oil exports; pervasive corruption, the invasion of Ukraine, and inadequate green infrastructure hinder investment and have resulted in sanctions
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
3.9% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
2.6% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
China 33%, India 17%, Turkey 8%, Kazakhstan 4%, Brazil 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 53%, Turkey 5%, Germany 5%, Kazakhstan 5%, Italy 2% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$38,200 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$39,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$41,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
-1.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, sugar beets, milk, barley, potatoes, sunflower seeds, maize, soybeans, chicken, pork (2023)
Exports - commodities
crude oil, refined oil, natural gas, coal, fertilizers (2023)
Imports - commodities
automobiles, packaged pharmaceuticals, broadcasting equipment, clothing, plastic items (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$237.735 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$49.439 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$62.287 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
12.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.174 trillion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
49.4% (2024 est.)
government consumption
18.6% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
4.2% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
22.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
21.9% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-17.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
12.1% (2020 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
25.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
5.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
4.5% (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
3.4% (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
6.7% (2021 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
4.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.607 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.835 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$6.089 trillion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
8.8% (2024 est.)
total
9.3% (2024 est.)
female
9.8% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$632.242 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$581.71 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$597.217 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
30.7% (2024 est.)
services
57.5% (2024 est.)
agriculture
2.7% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.7% (2021 est.)
highest 10%
26.6% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
35.1 (2021 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
211.944 million metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
20.765 million metric tons (2023 est.)
production
531.13 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
290.763 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
162.166 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
10.879 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
80 billion barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
3.863 million bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
18.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
2.852 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
1.011 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
301.926 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
97.301 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
exports
124.479 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
5.724 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
production
613.447 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
474.448 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
47.805 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of operational nuclear reactors
36 (2025)
Percent of total electricity production
18.4% (2023 est.)
Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
26.8GW (2025 est.)
Number of nuclear reactors under construction
4 (2025)
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
11 (2025)
Electricity access
electrification - rural areas
100%
electrification - urban areas
99.1%
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
224.858 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
wind
0.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear
19.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
61.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
17.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
92% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
Thirteen national television stations exist: the federal government possesses one and oversees another, two are controlled by the state-owned Gazprom, two more are managed by the state-affiliated Bank Rossiya, one is operated by the Moscow city administration, one is owned by the Russian Orthodox Church, and one is in the hands of the Russian military; there are approximately 3,300 national, regional, and local television stations, with more than two-thirds being entirely or partially under state control; satellite television services are accessible; there are two state-operated national radio networks, alongside a third that is majority-owned by Gazprom; about 2,400 public and commercial radio stations are in operation.
Internet country code
.ru
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
20,816,300 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
15 (2022 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
270 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
186 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
35.9 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
25 (2022 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
4
small
19
medium
5
key ports
Arkhangelsk, De Kastri, Dudinka, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novorossiysk, Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Vyborg
very small
38
total ports
67 (2024)
size unknown
1
ports with oil terminals
32
Airports
905 (2025)
Railways
total
85,494 km (2019)
narrow gauge
957 km
Heliports
494 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
2,910 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 15, container ship 20, general cargo 976, oil tanker 387, other 1,512
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
RA
Military & Security
Military - note
The Russian military is tasked with safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensuring maritime security, and advancing Moscow's national security goals, which encompass the projection of influence and power globally as well as the deterrence of perceived external threats. Its operations span air, land, maritime, strategic missile, and expeditionary missions. Additionally, the military is engaged in cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and space operations. Presently, the principal focus of the Russian military is the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the perceived threats posed by NATO and the United States.
In February 2022, Russia initiated a comprehensive military invasion of Ukraine, marking the beginning of the largest conflict in Europe since the conclusion of World War II in 1945. Russian forces had previously occupied Crimea in 2014 and subsequently provided support to separatist groups in the Donbas region of Ukraine with weapons, equipment, and training, along with the presence of Russian military personnel, which Moscow denied until 2022.
From September 2015 until the fall of the ASAD regime in December 2024, Russia intervened in the Syrian civil war at the request of the Syrian government. This marked Moscow’s first overseas military expeditionary operation since the Soviet era, with Russian support encompassing air operations, provision of arms and equipment, intelligence sharing, military advisers, private military contractors, special operations forces, and training. In 2008, Russia forcibly took control of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (2025).
Military deployments
An estimated 600,000 military personnel are stationed in Ukraine, with more than 20,000 additional troops deployed in former Soviet states and other locations, including Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Moldova, Syria, sub-Saharan Africa, and Tajikistan (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
4.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
7% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation consist of the Ground Forces (SV), Aerospace Forces (VKS), and Navy (VMF). Independent branches include the Airborne Forces (VDV), Missile Troops of Strategic Purpose (RVSN, commonly referred to as Strategic Rocket Forces), Special Operations Forces, and Unmanned Systems Forces.
Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation (FSVNG, also known as the National Guard, Russian Guard, or Rosgvardiya).
Federal Security Services (FSB): Federal Border Guard Service (comprising land and maritime units) (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Mandatory military service is required for men aged 18-30, while voluntary or contractual service is available for individuals aged 18-65. Women and non-Russian citizens aged 18-30 may volunteer, with a minimum service obligation of 12 months (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military and paramilitary branches of the Russian Federation are primarily equipped with domestically manufactured weapon systems. However, in recent years, Russia has procured military equipment from external sources such as Iran and North Korea to bolster its operations in Ukraine. The Russian defense industry possesses the capability to produce a comprehensive array of advanced air, land, missile, and naval systems, solidifying Russia’s position as one of the leading global exporters of military equipment (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
The estimated active personnel in the Armed Forces is between 1.1 and 1.2 million, alongside an estimated 350,000 Federal National Guard Troops (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in persons
tier rating
Tier 3 — Russia fails to completely satisfy the minimum criteria for the eradication of trafficking and is not demonstrating substantial efforts in this regard, consequently, Russia continues to be classified as Tier 3; for additional information, visit: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/russia/
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
172,783 (2024 est.)
refugees
11,440 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
90,185 (2024 est.)
Space
Space launch site(s)
Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan); Vostochny Cosmodrome (Amur Oblast); Plesetsk Cosmodrome (Arkhangel'sk Oblast) (2025)
Space agency/agencies
State Space Corporation of the Russian Federation (Roscosmos; established 2015); Russian Space Forces (Kosmicheskie voyska Rossii, KV; part of the Russian Aerospace Forces) (2025)
Space program overview
Holds one of the largest space programs worldwide and is engaged in all sectors of the space industry; constructs, launches, and operates satellites/space launch vehicles, satellites, space stations, interplanetary probes, and crewed, robotic, and reusable spacecraft; operates an astronaut (cosmonaut) training program and facilitates human spaceflight; is involved in the research and development of a wide array of space-related technologies; participates in international space initiatives, such as the International Space Station; has established partnerships with numerous foreign space agencies and commercial organizations, including those from China, the ESA, India, Japan, and the US; Roscosmos and its public subsidiaries represent the majority of the Russian space industry; Roscosmos encompasses eight operational sectors, including crewed space missions, launch systems, unmanned spacecraft, rocket propulsion, military missiles, space avionics, specialized military space systems, and flight control systems; private enterprises also contribute to various space systems (2025)
Key space-program milestones
1957 - Launched the world’s first satellite (Sputnik-1) into orbit.
1961-1964 - Sent the first man, first woman, and first multi-person crew into space.
1965 - Successfully launched the first probe to land on the Moon.
1967 - Conducted the inaugural launch of the Soviet-made Soyuz series space launch vehicle (SLV).
1971 - Deployed the first space station (Salyut) into orbit and successfully landed a probe on Venus.
1975 - Executed the joint Soviet (Soyuz)-US (Apollo) space mission.
1986 - Initiated the operation of the Mir space station (remained in orbit until 2001).
1995 - Completed the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLObalnaya NAvigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema or GLONASS) constellation.
2014 - Launched the first Angara SLV series.
2021 - Announced agreements with China to dispatch a robotic probe to an asteroid and to collaboratively establish a lunar station.
2023 - Launched the first of a planned series of lunar landers (Luna-25; which crashed on the Moon's surface); declared plans to place the first module of a new space station in orbit by 2027.
