Russia

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Russia's Information


Capital	Moscow
Languages	Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1%
Ethnic Groups	Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9%
Religion	Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006 est.)
Government	Semi-presidential federation
Independance	24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)
Area	17,098,242.00 km²
Water Area	720,500.00 km²
Land Area	16,377,742.00 km²
Population	142,355,415.00 Population is heavily concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country extending from the Baltic Sea, south to the Caspian Sea, and eastward parallel to the Kazakh border; elsewhere, sizeable pockets are isolated and generally found in the south
Location	North Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, extending from Europe (the portion west of the Urals) to the North Pacific Ocean
No. Bordering Countries	14
Bordering Countries	Azerbaijan 338 km, Belarus 1,312 km, China (southeast) 4,133 km, 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) 210 km, Ukraine 1,944 km
GDP(PPP)	$3,750,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$26,100.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the Netherlands, China, and Germany.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, and wood.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are China, Germany, and the United States.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, and semi-finished metal products.
Climate	Temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain	Broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions

Where is Russia?

Located in North Asia, Russia has a 22,408.00 km border with Azerbaijan (338 km), Belarus (1,312 km), China (southeast) (4,133 km), 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) (210 km) and Ukraine (1,944 km). It has a 37,653.00 km coastline. Russia remains concerned about the smuggling of poppy derivatives from Afghanistan through Central Asian countries.

Moscow is a historic city which has served as Russia’s capital since just after the 1917 Russian Revolution when Lenin moved it from St. Petersburg. The city, which is the coldest and most northern urban municipality in the world, is home to over twelve million residents. Major landmarks in Moscow have been erected as a means of honoring and paying tribute to the city’s rich cultural past. The Kremlin, the official residence of the President of Russia, is one of the most popular sites in the entire country. Newer attractions include both the Ostankino and Federation Towers. Moscow’s hemiboreal climate is characterized by long cold winters and warm summers.

Geography

Russia has a mean elevation of 600 m above sea level.

It has a temperate climate with two rainy seasons, from February to April and November to January. The terrain is made up of low hills, vast forests, tundra, uplands, and mountains.

Population

Russia has a population of 142,355,415 making it the 9th largest in the world. The majority of the country lives near either the Baltic Sea or the Caspian Sea.

Russian is the official language. The major ethnic group reported is Russian. The majority of the country is Russian Orthodox Christian, with a significant Muslim population. A significant minority is also non-religious.

The Russian language is one of only four East Slavic languages still spoken today. Its roots trace back to the Indo-European language family and are made up of a Cyrillic 33 letter alphabet. Over time, some characters have evolved and merged with others to form new letters. Local dialects in Russia differ depending on the geographical region. Common phrases, such as greetings, must be adapted to fit specific times and occasions. Many terms also differ depending upon which gender is being addressed. The nation is also home to a variety of minority languages such as Ukrainian and Tatar.

Government

Russia is an independent country. It gained independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Its constitution was last ratified in 1993.

Since the collapse of communism, Russia has assumed the official status of a federation with an elected president as its head of state. The president has the duty of appointing the country’s prime minister. Citizens can chose candidates from several parties to represent their interests in government. The administrative business of government is conducted in the Russian White House, formally known as The House of the Government of the Russian Federation, which was built from 1965 to 1981 and designed by two local architects. The country’s Federal Assembly is divided into the State Duma and the Federal Council.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Russia's GDP is $3,750,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $26,100.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 6th largest economy and its citizens the 69th richest in the world. The currency of Russia is the Ruble (RUB).

Its major export partners are the Netherlands, China, and Germany. Its main exports are petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, and wood. Its major import partners are China, Germany, and the United States. Its major imports include machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, and semi-finished metal products.

Flag

Russia’s history is marked by violent revolution and turbulent political change. The modern Russian flag dates back to a time in history when the nation was ruled by the all-powerful Tsars. Peter I adopted the tri colored flag after being inspired by that of the official flag of the Netherlands. Following the communist revolution, Russia was known as the USSR and adopted the familiar red flag featuring a hammer which was representative of the urban industrial workers, the sickle, which stood as a symbol of the rural peasants, and the star referring to the Communist party. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union the country once again adopted the traditional white, blue, and red flag design.