The ethnogenesis of any nation is studied on the basis of ethnographic, linguistic, historical and archaeological data. The Russian ethnos was formed on the basis of a single Old Russian nationality, formed after the merger of the Eastern Slavic tribes. At the present stage of Russian history, according to various sources, there are approximately 133 million people, of whom 85% live in Russia proper, and the rest abroad. Thebiggest.ru editorial staff conducted a small demographic study and identified the countries where most Russians live outside their historical homeland.
In which countries are many Russians:
1
Ukraine. (≈8.3 million)
The second largest nation after the Ukrainians. According to a census conducted in 2001, a little more than 8.3 million people lived in Russia in Ukraine. This was 17.3% of the total population of the Ukrainian state.
After the return of Crimea to Russia and recent political events, the number of Russians has significantly decreased. Now it is about 6 million people.
Most concentrated in the eastern and southern regions. Since 2014, the country has adopted a number of laws that significantly limit the rights of the Russian-speaking population. Closed Russian cultural and educational centers. The Russophobic policy of the Ukrainian authorities has complicated relations between the two countries, as well as complicated the life of the Russian-speaking minority.
2
Kazakhstan (≈3.5 million)
In the Central Asian country, according to the beginning of 2019, Russian people according to the completed questionnaires 3,553,232 people. This is the second largest ethnic group after the Kazakhs.
Before the collapse of the USSR in Kazakhstan, Russians made up about 40% of the population. Both then and now are concentrated, most often in large cities. The reasons for the settlement were large construction projects in the territory of the Kazakh SSR, to which specialists from the central regions of Russia were sent.
After the collapse, most Russians did not want to leave their place of residence. Today, most Russians live in the northern regions of Kazakhstan.
3
Germany (≈3 million)
At the moment, about 3 million people from the former republics of the USSR live in Germany. About 1 million of them consider Russian as their native language. The bulk of the settlers settled in Germany during the last wave of emigration that began in the late 1980s. But the relocation process continues. In recent years, young people have been actively moving to Germany in the hope of finding work or starting training. It is rather difficult to name the exact number of Russians in Germany, but sociologists assure that this diaspora is constantly growing.
Migrants from Russia prefer to settle in small cities. But large groups also live in the largest cities of the Western European country - in Berlin and Munich.
In 1984, the Russian House functions in Germany, there are Russian-speaking pharmacies, cultural institutions and educational centers.
By the way, Germany on our site thebiggest.ru is included in the list of the richest countries in the world in 2019.
4
USA (≈3 million)
In the United States, the phrase “Russian American” is not used, and all immigrants from Russia are called simply “Russians”. The history of relocation to the New World began in the 19th century.
According to the US migration services, approximately 3 million Russian-speaking people live in the country. Most of them come from Russia and Ukraine. But it is necessary to make an amendment, that sometimes all immigrants from the countries of Eastern Europe fall into this category.
Large Russian communities formed in the 11 largest cities in America. For example, in San Francisco there are about 70 thousand Russian-speaking residents, but in New York there are about 1.6 million.
5
Belarus (≈800 thousand)
Referring to the latest census, about 800 thousand ethnic Russians live in the Republic of Belarus. This is 8.2% of the total population of the country.
The ethnographic situation is rather complicated. Only 8% of the population recognize themselves as Russians, but more than 80% of the population speak Russian. At the same time, 70% call it the main one in everyday communication.
The peak number of Russians in this then Soviet republic came in 1989. Then this number was 1.5 million. Gradually, many returned to Russia, and some changed their identity to Belarusian.
6
Uzbekistan (≈650 thousand)
National censuses conducted in the Central Asian state show that approximately 650,000 ethnic Russians live in Uzbekistan permanently.
This is the largest diaspora in third place after the Uzbeks and Kazakhs. Most live in Tashkent. There are Russian communities in other major cities of the country.
There is a Russian center in Tashkent, and also has its own Orthodox diocese. The main temple is the Assumption Cathedral, which operates a Sunday school.
7
Canada (≈550 thousand)
As in the United States, it is necessary to separate the two groups. There are ethnic Russians and the so-called “Russian Canadians” - the descendants of immigrants from Russia.
According to the migration services, approximately 550 thousand Russians live in Canada, which is 1.6% of the total population of the multinational state. Large diasporas settled in Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec.
There are large communities in Montreal, Winnipeg, as well as British Columbia and Mississauga. Some cities have national cultural centers.
8
Latvia (≈538 thousand)
In this Baltic country, Russians are the largest national minority in comparison with other countries of the world where ethnic Russians live.
According to the 2019 census, 538 thousand Russians live here, which is 25.7% of the total population of the Latvian state. The authorities have a rather strict policy regarding national minorities. So, of the total number of Russian-speaking, almost 150 thousand Russians are recognized as "non-citizens."
After the adoption of the law on the Latvian language in 1999, the Russian language was recognized as a foreign language. Ethnic discrimination is a concern for parliamentarians, but the situation is only getting worse every year.
9
France (≈450 thousand)
So historically, immigrants from Russia settled in France. A huge part of the Russian-speaking population was here after the tragic events of the 1917 revolution and the Civil War.
The descendants of the first wave of Russian emigrants in most cases retained their national roots, and did not even forget their native language. If we take statistics, then the Russians in the French Republic are approximately 450 thousand people.
Russian emigrants settle in large cities and their picturesque suburbs. Many famous people of France have Russian roots.
10
Kyrgyzstan (≈400 thousand)
The first Russian settlers in this country appeared in the 19th century, and today from 370 to 400 thousand people who consider themselves Russian are constantly living in Kyrgyzstan.
Unlike other Central Asian republics, Russian people did not experience severe discrimination in the early 90s. And today their situation is quite satisfactory. They communicate freely in their native language, there are Russian-language schools and cultural institutions.
National holidays are held annually in the largest cities of Kyrgyzstan, where folk traditions and customs of the ethnic Russian population are demonstrated.
By the way, our site thebiggest.ru has an interesting article about landlocked Asian countries.
11
Moldova (≈380 thousand)
Another former republic of the Soviet Union, where after the collapse of the USSR, a large number of ethnic Russians remained. Today it is approximately 380 thousand people.
The reduction in the diaspora is associated with frequent interethnic marriages, when children born in Russian-Moldavian marriages were considered ethnic Moldovans.
After a short conflict, Transnistria seceded from Moldova, where the Russians have absolutely no national pressure or discomfort. Here, in the PMR, the main language of communication, along with Moldavian, is considered the Russian language.
12
Estonia (≈330 thousand)
Russians live in almost all regions of this small Baltic country. According to the census, approximately 250-330 thousand Russians live permanently in Estonia.
As in neighboring Latvia and Estonia, the Russian-ethnic are under pressure from the authorities. There is discrimination based on ethnicity, as noted in the reports of human rights organizations in Russia and the EU.
Statistics show that 53% of Russians have Estonian citizenship, 21% are stateless, and 24.3% accepted Russian citizenship, but remained resident in Estonia.
13
Argentina (≈300 thousand)
In faraway Argentina, one of the largest diasporas in Latin America. According to various sources, immigrants from Russia are about 270-300 thousand people.
It is noteworthy that approximately 100 thousand of the total number of diasporas retained knowledge of the Russian language and are free to communicate in it. Basically, the Russian-speaking population is fragmented, but in the capital of Argentina there is an Orthodox association, which has its own church, schools. A newspaper in Russian, Our Country, is also published.
Patagonia is home to a large community of Old Believers who have preserved national traditions and culture.
14
Lithuania (≈180 thousand)
A large number of Russians remained in this Baltic country after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. According to estimates, approximately 180 thousand Russians live in Lithuania, which is 5.8% of the total population.
Unlike Latvia and Estonia, in 1991 all Russians living at that time in the republic received Lithuanian citizenship. They received all civil rights, but experienced some discomfort.
In Vilnius, there is the Russian Cultural Center, the Association of Compatriots, and there are Russian-language theaters. But a survey conducted by the EU human rights organization showed that 12% of Russians in Lithuania experience discrimination.
15
Azerbaijan (≈115 thousand)
One of the largest ethnic groups, occupying the 3rd place after the Azerbaijanis and Lezgins themselves. About 115 thousand Russians live in Azerbaijan.
Most concentrated in Baku, as well as in the Sumgait and Ismayilli regions. The first settlers appeared here in the 19th century, and throughout all play an important role in the development of the Transcaucasian state.
The Russian community is active in Azerbaijan. Since 1920, the Azerbaijan State Russian Drama Theater has been operating in the capital of the state. It bears the name of the poet and playwright Samad Vurgun.
16
Great Britain (≈15 thousand)
In a 2001 census in the United Kingdom, 15,160 people indicated Russia as their country of birth on the questionnaire.
In total, according to experts, approximately 280 thousand immigrants from Russia live in the vastness of Great Britain. Throughout the history of relations between the two countries, several waves of emigration can be traced, the last of which began in the early 2000s.
Recently, young people from Russia are trying to enter universities in England, and after graduating from educational institutions to find work in large English cities. As a country of permanent residence, England is also chosen by Russian oligarchs.
Summary
Summing up all of the above, we note that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian people turned out to be the most fragmented in the world. After the appearance of new borders in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, many Russian people found themselves abroad. They influenced resettlement processes and economic crises when the Russians left in search of a better life in the countries of Western Europe and America.
Thebiggest editors are expecting interesting comments from you on our topic.