Quick facts about Russia

Capital:

Moscow

Territory:

17,075,200 sq km

Location:

Eastern part of Europe and Northern part of Asia

Geographic coordinates:

60 00 N, 100 00 E

Coastline:

37,653 km

Population:

144,526,278 (July 2003 est.)

Ethnic situation:

Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Belarusian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1% (1989 est.)

Religion:

Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other

Languages:

Russian

Type of government:

Federation

Administrative divisions:

49 oblasts (regions), 21 republics, 10 autonomous okrugs, 6 krais (territories), 2 federal cities, and 1 autonomous oblast.

Climate:

Ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast.

Terrain:

Broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions.

Flag description:

Three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red.

National holiday:

Russian Independence Day, 12 June (1990)

Constitution:

Adopted 12 December 1993

Industries:

Complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; medical and scientific instruments; textiles, foodstuffs.

Official currency:

Russian ruble (RUR)