Russia has a population of approximately 143 to 144 million people, making it the most populous country in Europe and the ninth most populous in the world. Despite its large population, its immense size results in one of the lowest population densities globally. Around 75% of Russians live in the European part of the country, leading to high urbanization in cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Demographically, Russia has faced challenges with natural population decline, characterized by a low birth rate and a relatively low life expectancy for males (largely historically tied to lifestyle factors), though immigration from former Soviet republics has occasionally offset these losses. The population skews slightly older, with a median age of around 40 years, and there is a pronounced gender imbalance favoring women in older age cohorts.
Russia is highly multiethnic. Ethnic Russians make up roughly 71-75% of the population, followed by over 190 minority groups, including Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkirs, Chuvash, and Chechens. The primary religion is Russian Orthodoxy, deeply intertwined with national culture, alongside a significant Muslim minority (predominantly in the North Caucasus and Volga regions), as well as smaller Buddhist and Jewish communities. Russian is the universal language, though dozens of regional languages are officially recognized and spoken.