Russia has a population of approximately 144 million people as of 2025, making it the ninth most populous country in the world. Despite being the largest nation on Earth by land area, Russia is home to fewer people than countries a fraction of its size, and its population has been shrinking for most of the past three decades.
How Many People Live in Russia?
Russia's roughly 144 million residents place it behind India, China, the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil and Bangladesh in the global rankings. To put that figure in perspective, Russia accounts for only about 1.8% of humanity while occupying more than 11% of the planet's inhabited land. The contrast is striking: the country spans 11 time zones and stretches some 9,000 kilometres from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific, yet its total population is comparable to that of much smaller nations such as Bangladesh, which is squeezed into an area roughly 120 times smaller.
This vast territory combined with a modest population produces an exceptionally low average density of only about 8 to 9 people per square kilometre — among the lowest of any major country. For comparison, the United States averages around 36 people per km² and India more than 400.
A Declining and Aging Population
One of the defining features of Russian demographics is long-term decline. The population peaked at roughly 148.5 million in 1993, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and has trended downward ever since. The current annual growth rate sits at about -0.19%, meaning the country loses tens of thousands of people each year through natural decrease.
The roots of this decline run deep. The economic chaos of the 1990s sent birth rates plummeting while mortality — especially among working-age men affected by alcohol-related illness and poor healthcare access — climbed sharply. Although the government introduced pro-natalist measures such as "maternity capital" cash payments to encourage larger families, these only briefly stabilised numbers in the late 2000s and early 2010s. More recently, emigration and the effects of the conflict in Ukraine have intensified the downward pressure. Demographers project that Russia's population could fall below 130 million by 2050 if current trends hold.
Where Russians Live
Russia's population is distributed extraordinarily unevenly. Roughly three-quarters of all Russians live in the European, western portion of the country, even though that region makes up less than a quarter of the national territory. The vast expanses of Siberia and the Russian Far East — together larger than all of Western Europe — are home to only a sparse scattering of people, with the entire Far East housing fewer than 6 million inhabitants.
The country is also heavily urbanised, with around 75% of the population living in towns and cities. The three largest urban centres are:
- Moscow — the capital and largest city, with over 13 million residents in the city proper and around 17 million in the wider metropolitan area, making it Europe's most populous city and the source of roughly a quarter of national GDP.
- Saint Petersburg — the former imperial capital and cultural heart of the country, with over 5 million people.
- Novosibirsk — Siberia's largest city and a scientific and industrial hub, with about 1.6 million residents.
Ethnic and Religious Makeup
Russia is a multi-ethnic federation that recognises more than 190 distinct ethnic groups. Ethnic Russians form the large majority at roughly 78% of the population, while sizeable minorities include Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkirs, Chuvash and the many peoples of the North Caucasus. Russian is the official language and the common tongue across the federation, though dozens of minority languages hold official status within individual republics.
In terms of faith, Russian Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion, claiming the allegiance of around 71% of the population, with Islam the second-largest faith, concentrated in regions such as the North Caucasus, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan. You can explore more about the country's geography, regions and culture in our russia country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Russia's population growing or shrinking?
It is shrinking. Russia's population has been in overall decline since its 1993 peak of about 148.5 million, and it continues to fall at roughly -0.19% per year due to low birth rates, high mortality and net emigration.
What is the population density of Russia?
Russia averages only about 8 to 9 people per square kilometre — one of the lowest densities of any major nation — because its enormous territory is so sparsely settled, particularly across Siberia and the Far East.
What is the largest city in Russia?
Moscow is by far the largest city, with over 13 million residents in the city itself and around 17 million in the metropolitan region. It is both the capital and Europe's most populous city.
Where do most Russians live?
About three-quarters of Russians live in the western, European part of the country, even though it represents less than a quarter of the total land area. The eastern regions remain extremely thinly populated.
