B&M \ About Russia \ People

People

Russians are a Slavic people who have occupied the land between the Baltic and Black Seas for at least 1,500 years. Russia is also home to many other ethnic groups including Tatars, Ukrainians, Chuvash, Bashkir, Belarusians, Moldavians, and others. Many of the minority ethnic groups reside in their own autonomous regions. While Russian is the official language, other languages, such as Tatar and Ukrainian, reflect the country’s diversity.

In terms of religious affiliation, although there are small minorities of Jews and Muslims in Russia, Christianity is by far the major religion. The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches, and dates back to 988 C.E. Once discouraged under communist rule, religion is now experiencing a revival.

Today, Russia has an estimated total population of nearly 142 million. Russians have an average life expectancy at birth of 61.3 years (56.1 years for males, 66.4 years for females). The infant mortality rate is 23 deaths per 1,000 live births. An estimated 98 percent of the population, age 15 and older, can read and write (100 percent of males, 97 percent of females).

B&M \ About Russia \ People