Moscow is the most populous city entirely within Europe, with an official population of approximately 13.1 million residents, though unofficial estimates incorporating temporary workers and unregistered residents often place the actual number much higher. The broader metropolitan area is home to over 20 million people.
The population is predominantly ethnic Russian (historically over 90%), but Moscow is highly cosmopolitan, hosting significant communities of Ukrainians, Tatars, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Belarusians, and Central Asian migrants who contribute heavily to the city's labor force.
Russian Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion, deeply intertwined with the city's culture and history, though there are active populations of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and non-religious residents. The primary language is Russian. Moscow boasts a highly educated populace, with a large percentage of residents holding university degrees, driving a competitive, high-income labor market relative to the rest of the country.