The Russian Federation

National day-Independence day | Russia Day – June 12

General Information

Russia is the largest country in the world and is located in Eastern Europe and northern part of Asia

Fact, figure and further information

Population

According to the data provided by the Federal State Statistics Service, the population of Russia as of May 19, 2014 was 143.7 million people. In terms of the population, the Russian Federation occupies the 8th place in the world. Two percent of the world's population lives in Russia.

Russia is a multiethnic state. Over 160 nationalities live on its territory, the largest (80.9% of the population) being Russians. Russian is the official State language. Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion. Islamic, Catholic, Buddhist and other confessions are less widespread.

State

Russia is a democratic federal state with a republican form of government. The legislative body of the Russian Federation is the bicameral Federal Assembly (the Council of Federation and the State Duma). The Council of Federation consists of representatives of each federal entity. The deputies of the State Duma are elected for a term of 5 years from party lists by proportion of the votes that each party receives nationwide.

The Head of State is the President of the Russian Federation, who is also the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The President is elected by citizens of Russia by direct secret ballot for a term of 6 years. Vladimir V.Putin was elected President on March 4, 2012.

The executive power is exercised by the Government of the Russian Federation. The Chairman of the Government is appointed by the President with the consent of the State Duma. The Russian Federation consists of 85 federal entities (republics, territories, regions, cities of federal importance). Moscow is the capital of Russia.

Territory and Climate

The total area of Russia is 17 124,442 sq. km. Over 45% of the country’s area is covered by forests, 4% - by water, 13% - by arable land, 19% - deer grazing land, 19% - other.

Russia has about 2.5 million rivers and 2 million fresh and salt water lakes. The largest rivers are Volga, North Dvina, Don, Pechora, Ob, Yrtysh, Yenisey, Angara, Lena, Amur; the largest lakes are the Caspian (Sea), Baikal, Ladoga, Onega. Russia has 35 national parks and 84 natural reserves.

The climate changes from marine on the extreme Northwest to harsh continental on Siberia and monsoon in the Far East. Average temperatures in January are from 0 C to – 50 C, in July – from +1 C to +25 C; precipitation is from 150 to 2000 mm per year. Russia has the following climatic zones: arctic desert, tundra, forest tundra, forest, forest steppe, steppe, semi desert.

Further Information

Useful Links

“Russia Direct” (news and facts) www.russia-direct.org
“Russia beyond the Headlines” (news and more) www.rbth.com
“Russia Today” (news channel) www.rt.com
“Sputnik News” (news channel) www.sputniknews.com
Federal Agency for Tourism (official website) www.russiatourism.ru/en

ACD Events

None