Russia Today
| Area | 6.6 milion sq mls | |||||||||
| Population | 142,905,208 (2010 Census) | |||||||||
| Regions | 8 Federal Districts sub-divided into 83 Federal Subjects |
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| Elections | Presidential - Mar 2012 | |||||||||
| Climate | Arctic to Sub-tropical | |||||||||
| Time Zones | 9 | |||||||||
| Ethnicity |
Russian 80% Tartar 4% Ukranians 2% Bashkis 1% Chirvash 1% Chechen 1% Armenian 1% Others 10% |
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| Religion | Orthodox 73% Muslim 6% Others 1% Atheist 20% | |||||||||
| Education | Adult Literacy 99.5% Graduates 54% (25-64) | |||||||||
| Economy | Agriculture 4% Services 60% Industry 36% | |||||||||
| GDP | $1.479 trillion GDP (PPP) $2.231 trillion | |||||||||
| Imports | EU 50% China 14% USA 3% | |||||||||
| Exports | EU 45% China 6% USA 6% | |||||||||
Today’s Russia is as diverse as it is large. Covering an area of some 6.6 million sq mls. it is by far the world’s largest country. Although it’s 143 million population is both ethnically and religiously mixed, Russians make up some 80% and Russian Orthodoxy 73% respectively. Literacy in adults runs at 99.5% and Russia has the highest graduate levels in the world at 54% for adults between 25 and 64 years old. Generally speaking the winters in most of Russia are harsh, however, the climate ranges from Arctic to Sub-tropical and summers can be hot anyway in the country.
With a national debt to GDP of only 11%, Russia is not burdened by the austerity measures now being put in place in many of the European economies and sees the modernisation, of both industry and the infrastructure as a priority. Over the next 10 years the Federal Government will allocate over £1 trillion for Capital Projects within its key industries, creating huge opportunities for both national and foreign companies alike.
Although the economic downturn, felt around the world, also effected Russia, it was less deep than in Europe and the USA and less prolonged. Business confidence is up with many of Russia’s major companies expanding and employing, particularly within industrial production and notably the automotive industry.
Employment increased further year on year with unemployment now standing at 6.4% (Nov 2011), Inflation has reduced in the period and is running at 6.1% (Dec 2011) and growth is estimated to reach 4.9% for 2011.
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