Russia: Really Part of Europe?
Most of Russia’s land lies in the East, but most of its people live in the West.
Credit: E. O.Shutterstock.com
1. About three-quarters of Russia’s landmass lies on the Asian side of the Urals.
2. In contrast, about 78% of Russia’s population lives on the European side.
3. In other words, the European part of Russia has three-fourths of the entire countries population — and one-fourth of the land area.
4. As a result, the population density of Russia’s two continental regions is vastly different.
5. European Russia has a population density of about 26 people per sq. kilometer — which is only about a tenth of Germany’s 229 people per sq. kilometer.
6. Meanwhile, Asian Russia’s population density is only 2.5 people per sq. kilometer. — one of the least densely populated regions on earth.
7. Two of European Russia’s cities, Moscow (12 million) and St. Petersburg (5 million), account for 12% of Russia’s total population of 143 million.
8. Moscow and St. Petersburg also play a significant role in the Russian economy, accounting for about 25% of the country’s GDP.
Source: RussiaPedia by Russian Times and analysis by The Globalist Research Center
