What is the population of Russia in 2026?
Russia has a population of 143,513,328 people (2025 estimate), which is 9th in the world and about 1.73% of the global total.
Officially Russian Federation
Population 2025
143,513,328
1.73% of world population
World Bank, 2025Annual Growth
−0.11%
−156,430 people a year
World Bank, 2025Density
9/km²
16,376,870 km² land area
World Bank, 2023Median Age
40.3 years
Life expectancy 73.4 years
Our World in Data, 2025About Russia
Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is the world's largest country by land area, spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia across 11 time zones. It has the ninth-largest population and possesses the world's largest reserves of natural resources. Russia is a nuclear superpower, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and a major global energy exporter. Despite economic challenges, Russia maintains significant military, political, and cultural influence.
Country Facts
- Capital
- Moscow
- Continent
- Europe
- ISO codes
- RU · RUS
- Demonym
- Russian
- Currency
- Russian ruble (RUB ₽)
- Government
- Super-presidential republic, Semi-presidential system, Federal republic +2 more
- State inception
- 1263
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Driving side
- Right
- Calling code
- +7
- Internet TLD
- .ru, .su, .рф
- Land neighbours
- 14
Languages
- Russian
Religions
- Russian Orthodox (71%)
- Islam (10%)
- Other Christian (2%)
- None (15%)
Demographics
Russia faces a demographic crisis with declining and aging population. Low fertility rates (around 1.5 children per woman) and high mortality, especially among men (life expectancy gap of 10+ years between genders), have caused population decline. Russia is ethnically diverse with 190 recognized ethnic groups, though ethnic Russians constitute 78%. Significant populations of Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkirs, and Chuvash exist. Urbanization is high at 75%.
Economy
Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports, which account for over 40% of federal revenues. It is the world's largest natural gas exporter and second-largest oil exporter. Other sectors include metals, mining, and defense industries. Economic sanctions following the 2022 Ukraine invasion have accelerated a pivot toward China and other non-Western markets. Brain drain remains a significant challenge.
Major exports
- Crude petroleum
- Refined petroleum
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Wheat
- Iron
- Aluminum
- Fertilizers
Major imports
- Automobiles
- Pharmaceuticals
- Electronics
- Machinery
- Clothing
- Plastics
- Aircraft
Health
Education
Environment
Infrastructure
Quality of Life
Geography
Russia spans 11 time zones from Kaliningrad on the Baltic to Vladivostok on the Pacific. Landscapes include Arctic tundra, vast Siberian taiga (the world's largest forest), the Ural Mountains, and steppes in the south. Lake Baikal contains 20% of the world's unfrozen fresh water. The Volga is Europe's longest river. Permafrost covers 65% of Russian territory. Russia has borders with 14 countries.
Natural resources
- Oil
- Natural gas
- Coal
- Iron ore
- Gold
- Diamonds
- Nickel
- Platinum
- Palladium
- Timber
- Rare earth elements
- Uranium
Climate
- Subarctic to subtropical, with continental interior
Military
Age & Gender Distribution
Population by five-year age band, UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Male Female
- Age 0–14
- 17.3%
- Age 15–64
- 65.5%
- Age 65+
- 17.2%
| Age band | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ | 2,531 | 13,701 |
| 95-99 | 34,419 | 147,877 |
| 90-94 | 129,507 | 485,110 |
| 85-89 | 453,652 | 1,466,691 |
| 80-84 | 612,644 | 1,693,970 |
| 75-79 | 1,268,566 | 2,701,377 |
| 70-74 | 2,449,762 | 4,501,713 |
| 65-69 | 3,484,287 | 5,430,683 |
| 60-64 | 4,195,118 | 5,641,975 |
| 55-59 | 3,818,980 | 4,615,266 |
| 50-54 | 4,436,200 | 5,001,925 |
| 45-49 | 4,965,318 | 5,464,120 |
| 40-44 | 5,651,019 | 5,914,216 |
| 35-39 | 6,354,235 | 6,385,462 |
| 30-34 | 5,043,324 | 4,945,787 |
| 25-29 | 3,698,549 | 3,593,328 |
| 20-24 | 3,695,263 | 3,557,843 |
| 15-19 | 4,060,572 | 3,882,861 |
| 10-14 | 4,716,792 | 4,471,949 |
| 5-9 | 4,587,725 | 4,341,904 |
| 0-4 | 3,546,490 | 3,357,707 |
Population History & Projection (1950–2100)
Observed population to 2024, then the UN medium-variant projection.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 103,392,360 |
| 1960 | 119,934,141 |
| 1970 | 130,367,189 |
| 1980 | 138,572,623 |
| 1990 | 148,979,541 |
| 2000 | 146,717,783 |
| 2010 | 143,934,465 |
| 2020 | 146,371,299 |
| 2030 | 141,889,410 |
| 2040 | 138,281,831 |
| 2050 | 136,132,775 |
| 2060 | 132,893,469 |
| 2070 | 129,710,829 |
| 2080 | 127,837,919 |
| 2090 | 127,144,110 |
| 2100 | 126,386,515 |
History
Russia's history spans from the medieval Kievan Rus' through the Tsarist Russian Empire, the 1917 Revolution, and Soviet era (1922-1991). The USSR was a superpower rivaling the United States during the Cold War. After the Soviet dissolution, Russia experienced economic chaos in the 1990s before stabilizing under Vladimir Putin. Russia has expanded its territory to become the world's largest country through centuries of conquest and colonization.
Culture
Russian culture has produced giants of literature (Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov), music (Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky), and ballet (Bolshoi, Mariinsky). The Russian Orthodox Church shapes cultural identity. Architecture ranges from colorful onion domes to Soviet brutalism. Russia has a strong tradition in chess, ice hockey, and figure skating. The Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet and is spoken by 258 million people.
Current Challenges
Russia faces severe demographic decline, economic over-reliance on hydrocarbons, international isolation from sanctions, brain drain, infrastructure decay, and climate-change-induced permafrost thaw threatening buildings and pipelines. The 2022 Ukraine war has dramatically altered Russia's global position, economy, and society. Political succession uncertainty looms.
Future Outlook
Russia's future trajectory is uncertain. Population is projected to decline to under 130 million by 2050. Economic diversification remains elusive. Climate change may open Arctic shipping routes and new resources but also threatens infrastructure. Russia's relationship with China and the West will shape its 21st-century path. Sanctions have accelerated technological and economic decoupling from the West.
Highlights
What Russia Is Known For
- World's largest country by area (17.1 million sq km)
- 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- World's largest natural gas reserves
- First nation to put a human in space (Yuri Gagarin, 1961)
- Home to Europe's longest river (Volga)
Interesting Facts About Russia
- Russia has more time zones than any other country (11)
- Lake Baikal is the deepest lake on Earth at 1,642 meters
- The Moscow Metro is so deep it doubles as a nuclear shelter
- Russia's Trans-Siberian Railway is the longest railway in the world (9,289 km)
- Russians consume more tea per capita than almost any other nation
- Russia has more nuclear weapons than any other country
- The Hermitage Museum employs cats to protect artwork from mice
How Russia Compares
Population against the ten most populous countries.
- India1.46B
- China1.41B
- United States341.8M
- Indonesia285.7M
- Pakistan255.2M
- Nigeria237.5M
- Brazil212.8M
- Bangladesh175.7M
- Russia143.5M
- Ethiopia135.5M
| Name | Population |
|---|---|
| India | 1.46B |
| China | 1.41B |
| United States | 341.8M |
| Indonesia | 285.7M |
| Pakistan | 255.2M |
| Nigeria | 237.5M |
| Brazil | 212.8M |
| Bangladesh | 175.7M |
| Russia | 143.5M |
| Ethiopia | 135.5M |
Major Cities in Russia
2 metropolitan areas in our city dataset.
- Moscow12.6M · +0.35%
- Saint Petersburg5.6M · +0.15%
Countries Bordering Russia
14 land borders.
- Azerbaijan10.2M · +0.43%
- Belarus9.09M · −0.51%
- China1.41B · −0.17%
- Estonia1.37M · −0.43%
- Finland5.65M · +0.47%
- Georgia3.94M · +3.18%
- Kazakhstan20.8M · +1.21%
- North Korea26.6M · +0.27%
- Latvia1.85M · −0.99%
- Lithuania2.89M · +0.02%
- Mongolia3.57M · +1.25%
- Norway5.61M · +0.69%
- Poland36.4M · −0.34%
- Ukraine39M · +2.92%
Russia Population FAQ
Is the population of Russia growing or shrinking?
Russia's population is shrinking at −0.11% per year, a change of roughly 156,430 people annually.
What is the capital of Russia?
The capital of Russia is Moscow.
What is the largest city in Russia?
Moscow is the largest metropolitan area in Russia, with about 12.6M people.
How densely populated is Russia?
Russia has 9/km² across 16,376,870 km² of land area.
What is life expectancy in Russia?
Life expectancy at birth in Russia is 73.4 years (2024).
What is the median age in Russia?
The median age in Russia is 40.3 years, meaning half the population is younger than that and half older.
Which continent is Russia in?
Russia is in Europe.