Ethnic groups of Russia

Russia, as the largest country in the world, has great ethnic diversity, is a multinational state, and is home to over 190 ethnic groups nationwide. However, demographically; ethnic Russians dominate the country's population. In the 2010 Census, roughly 81% of the population were ethnic Russians, and the remaining 19% of the population were ethnic minorities. The 83 (or 85) federal subjects which together constitute the Russian Federation include:

* 21 national republics (intended as homes to a specific ethnic minority)
* 4 autonomous okrugs (usually with substantial or predominant ethnic minority)
* 1 autonomous oblast

Ethnic groups of Russia, 1926–2010

Future projections

The ethnic demographic mix of the Russian Federation is projected to change far into the future. The majority population, ethnic Russians, who have been in slight decline since the 1950's will decline further due to a below replacement fertility rate and population ageing. In 2010, rough population projections from Ivan Beloborodov projecting to 2030 estimated that the percentage of Russians within the population would decrease to around 70 to 60% of the total population.

Language and culture

Although the constitution of Russia recognizes Russian as the official language, the individual republics may declare one or more official languages. Many of these subjects have at least two—Russian and the language of the "eponymous" nationality. There is a minority language scene in most subjects of the country, with more than 1,350 newspapers and magazines, 300 TV channels and 250 radio stations in over 50 of these minority languages. Moreover, new legislation allows usage of minority languages in federal radio and TV broadcasting.

In 2007, there were 6,260 schools which provided teaching in 38 minority languages. Over 75 minority languages were taught as a discipline in 10,404 schools. The Ministers of Council of Europe has noted significant efforts to improve the supply of minority language textbooks and teachers, as well as a greater availability of minority language teaching. However, as Ministers has noted, there remain shortcomings in the access to education of a person(s) belonging to certain minorities.

There are more than 2,000 national minorities' public associations and 560 national cultural autonomies, however the Committee of Ministers has noted that in many regions, amount of state support for the preservation and development of minority cultures is still inadequate. There's a significant difference between "eponymous" ethnic groups and nationalities without their own national territory, as resources of the last are relatively limited.

Indigenous peoples

Russia is also home to a particular category of minority peoples, i.e. small indigenous peoples of the North and Far East, who maintain very traditional lifestyles, often in a hazardous climatic environment, while adapting to the modern world. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia passed legislation to protect rights of these small northern indigenous peoples.

Gil-Robles has noted agreements between indigenous representatives and oil companies, which are to compensate potential damages on peoples habitats due to oil exploration. As Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe noted in 2007, despite some initiatives for development, the social and economic situation of numerically small indigenous peoples was affected by recent legislative amendments at the federal level, removing some positive measures as regards their access to land and other natural resources.

Maps

File:Ethnic map of Russia 1989.png, 1989 ethnic map of Russia showing the largest ethnic group of each region or Republic; with brown as Russians, green as Turkic peoples
File:Ethnic map of Russia 2010.png, Ethnic map of Russia, 2010
File:Largest ethnic minority by federal subject 2010.svg, Largest ethnic group apart from Russians: yellow – Ukrainians, lawn green – Tatars, green – Kazakhs, orange – Armenians, blue – Buryats, gray-blue – Germans, pink – Koreans
File:Two largest ethnic minority by federal subject 2010.jpg, The largest two ethnic groups, excluding Russians, in each region (Census 2010)
File:Ethnic Russian population in the Russian Federation.png, Distribution of Russians, 2010
File:Tatars by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Tatars, 2010
File:Ukrainians by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Ukrainians, 2010
File:Bashkirs by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Bashkirs, 2010
File:Chuvashs by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Chuvashs, 2010
File:Chechens by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Chechens, 2010
File:Armenians by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Armenians, 2010
File:Mordvins by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Mordvins, 2010
File:Kazakhs by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Kazakhs, 2010
File:Azerbaijanis by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Azerbaijanis, 2010
File:Belarusians by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Belarusians, 2010
File:Germans by federal subject 2010.svg, Distribution of Germans, 2010

See also

* Demographics of Russia
* List of ethnic groups in Russia

Indigenous peoples:
* Indigenous peoples of Siberia
* List of endangered languages in Russia
* List of extinct indigenous peoples of Russia
* List of larger indigenous peoples of Russia
* List of minor indigenous peoples of Russia

References

External links

Population by mother tongue and districts in 50 Governorates of the European Russia in 1897


* ttp://blc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/Coyne_BLC.pdf Ethnic and National Minorities of the Russian Federation: A Diversity Based Curriculum for the Intermediate Russian Classroom

{{Russia topics

Social groups of Russia