Moving to Russia: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

140,820,810

Population Growth Rate

-0.49%

Population Distribution

population is heavily concentrated in the westernmost fifth of the country extending from the Baltic Sea, south to the Caspian Sea, and eastward parallel to the Kazakh border

elsewhere, sizeable pockets are isolated and generally found in the south

Urban Population

• population: 75.3% of total population rate of
• urbanization: 0.11% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Population in Major Urban Areas

12.680 million MOSCOW (capital), 5.561 million Saint Petersburg, 1.695 million Novosibirsk, 1.528 million Yekaterinburg, 1.292 million Kazan, 1.251 million Nizhniy Novgorod

Population: Male/Female

• male: 65,496,805
• female: 75,324,005

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Age Structure

• years: 16.5% (male 11,956,284/female 11,313,829) 15-64
• years: 65.7% (male 45,007,073/female 47,518,221) 65 years and
• over: 17.8% (male 8,533,448/female 16,491,955)

Median Age

• total: 41.9 years
• male: 39.4 years
• female: 44.5 years

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

8

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

14

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.52

Gross reproduction rate

1

Child Marriage

women married by age 15: 0.3% women married by age 18: 6.2%

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

68%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

68%

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.1%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

25.2

Mother's mean age at first birth

25.2

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

• birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14
• years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64
• years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and
• over: 0.52 male(s)/female total
• population: 0.87 male(s)/female

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

.8

Ethnic Groups

Russian 77.7%, Tatar 3.7%, Ukrainian 1.4%, Bashkir 1.1%, Chuvash 1%, Chechen 1%, other 10.2%, unspecified 3.9%

Language Note

Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1%; note - data represent native language spoken

Nationality Noun

• noun: Russian(s)
• adjective: Russian

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Literacy - total population

99.7%

Literacy - male

99.7%

Literacy - female

99.7%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

3.7%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

• total: 16 years
• male: 16 years
• female: 16 years

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Life Expectancy at Birth

• population: 72.3 years
• male: 67.4 years
• female: 77.4 years

Infant Mortality Rate

• total: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

• total: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 7.2 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

14

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

3.82

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

7.1

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

7.6%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

• risk: intermediate food or waterborne
• diseases: bacterial diarrhea vectorborne
• diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, tickborne encephalitis

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1%

Tobacco Use

• total: 26.8%
• male: 40.8%
• female: 12.8%

Alcohol consumption per capita

• total: 7.29 liters of pure alcohol
• beer: 3.04 liters of pure alcohol
• wine: 0.97 liters of pure alcohol
• spirits: 3.16 liters of pure alcohol other
• alcohols: 0.12 liters of pure alcohol

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 99.1% of population
• rural: 93.1% of population
• total: 97.6% of population
• unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population
• rural: 6.9% of population
• total: 2.4% of population

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 95.2% of population
• rural: 72.3% of population
• total: 89.4% of population
• unimproved: urban: 4.8% of population
• rural: 27.7% of population
• total: 10.6% of population

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Economic Overview

The Russian economy is one of the world's largest and most resource-rich economies, with a diverse industrial base that includes energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and technology sectors.

Its primary industries include oil, natural gas, metals, and minerals, which contribute significantly to export revenues.

However, the economy is heavily reliant on the energy sector, particularly oil and gas exports, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global commodity prices.

In recent years, Russia has faced economic challenges, including international sanctions, geopolitical tensions, and structural inefficiencies.

These factors, coupled with low oil prices and weak domestic demand, have hindered economic growth.

The Russian government has implemented various policies to diversify the economy, boost innovation, and attract foreign investment.

Additionally, efforts have been made to reduce dependence on imports and promote import substitution to strengthen domestic industries.

Despite these challenges, Russia remains a major player in the global economy, with a skilled workforce, advanced technological capabilities, and vast natural resources.

Moving forward, the Russian government aims to modernize infrastructure, improve the business climate, and foster innovation to ensure sustainable economic growth and stability.

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
• defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced electronic components, shipbuilding
• road and rail transportation equipment
• communications equipment
• agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment
• electric power generating and transmitting equipment
• medical and scientific instruments
• consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$23,700.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-3.9%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$3,875,690,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$23,700.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

-3.9%

GDP - official exchange rate

$1,236,000,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 53.2% government
• consumption: 20.2% investment in fixed
• capital: 19.1% investment in
• inventories: -3.3% exports of goods and
• services: 32.2% imports of goods and
• services: -21.4%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

4.4%

GDP by Sector- Industry

35.8%

GDP by Sector- services

59.7%

Industrial Growth Rate

2.6%

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Inflation Rate

5.1%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

Russian ruble (RUB)

Currency Name and Code

Russian Ruble (RUR or RUB)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

9.3%

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Labor Force

75,600,000

Unemployment Rate

5.7%

Major 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
• defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced electronic components, shipbuilding
• road and rail transportation equipment
• communications equipment
• agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment
• electric power generating and transmitting equipment
• medical and scientific instruments
• consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Agriculture Products

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk

Population Below Poverty Line

12.7%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

9.7%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

27.8%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

62.5%

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Annual Budget

$423,400,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

12.2%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-0.5%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

20.7%

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Full Country Name

Russian Federation

Country Name

Russia

Local - Long

Rossiyskaya Federatsiya

Local - Short

Rossiya

Former Name

Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Etymology- history of name

• Russian lands were generally referred to as Muscovy until PETER I officially declared the Russian Empire in 1721
• the new name sought to invoke the patrimony of the medieval eastern European Rus state centered on Kyiv in present-day Ukraine
• the Rus were a Varangian (eastern Viking) elite that imposed their rule and eventually their name on their Slavic subjects

Independence

• 25 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union
• Russian SFSR renamed Russian Federation)
• notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created)
• 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established)
• 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed)
• 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)

National Holiday

Russia Day, 12 June (1990); note - commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR)

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Government Type

semi-presidential federation

Constitution

• history: several previous (during Russian Empire and Soviet era); latest drafted 12 July 1993, adopted by referendum 12 December 1993, effective 25 December 1993
• amendments: proposed by the president of the Russian Federation, by either house of the Federal Assembly, by the government of the Russian Federation, or by legislative (representative) bodies of the Federation's constituent entities; proposals to amend the government’s constitutional system, human and civil rights and freedoms, and procedures for amending or drafting a new constitution require formation of a Constitutional Assembly; passage of such amendments requires two-thirds majority vote of its total membership; passage in a referendum requires participation of an absolute majority of eligible voters and an absolute majority of valid votes; approval of proposed amendments to the government structure, authorities, and procedures requires approval by the legislative bodies of at least two thirds of the Russian Federation's constituent entities; amended several times, last in 2020 (major revisions)

Legal System:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (since 7 May 2012); no vice president position
• head of government: Premier Mikhail Vladimirovich MISHUSTIN (since 16 January 2020); First Deputy Premier Andrey Removich BELOUSOV (since 21 January 2020); Deputy Premiers Yuriy TRUTNEV (since 31 August 2013), Tatiana Alekseyevna GOLIKOVA (since 18 May 2018), Dmitriy Yuriyevich GRIGORENKO, Viktoriya Valeriyevna ABRAMCHENKO, Aleksey Logvinovich OVERCHUK, Marat Shakirzyanovich KHUSNULLIN, Dmitriy Nikolayevich CHERNYSHENKO (all since 21 January 2020), Aleksandr NOVAK (since 10 November 2020), Denis Valentinovich MANTUROV (since 15 July 2022)
• cabinet: the government is composed of the premier, his deputies, and ministers, all appointed by the president; the premier is also confirmed by the Duma
• elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (2020 constitutional amendments allow a second consecutive term); election last held on 15 to 17 March 2024 (next to be held 2030)
• election results: 2024: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 88.5%, Nikolay KHARITONOV (Communist Party) 4.4%, Vladislav DAVANKOV (New People party) 3.9%, Leonid SLUTSKY (Liberal Democrats) 3.2% 2018: Vladimir PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (independent) 77.5%, Pavel GRUDININ (CPRF) 11.9%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 5.7%, other 4.9%; Mikhail MISHUSTIN (independent) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 383 to 0 2012: Vladimir PUTIN elected president; percent of vote - Vladimir PUTIN (United Russia) 63.6%, Gennadiy ZYUGANOV (CPRF) 17.2%, Mikhail PROKHOROV (CP) 8%, Vladimir ZHIRINOVSKIY (LDPR) 6.2%, Sergey MIRONOV (A Just Russia) 3.9%, other 1.1%; Dmitriy MEDVEDEV (United Russia) approved as premier by Duma; vote - 299 to 144
• note: there is also a Presidential Administration that provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president

Legislative Branch:

• Description: bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of: Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (170 seats statutory, 169 as of April 2023; 2 members in each of the 83 federal administrative units (see note below) - oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg - appointed by the top executive and legislative officials; members serve 4-year terms) State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats (see note below); as of February 2014, the electoral system reverted to a mixed electoral system for the 2016 election, in which one-half of the members are directly elected by simple majority vote and one-half directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: State Duma - last held 17 - 19 September 2021 (next to be held in September 2026)
• Election Results: Federation Council - composition as of February 2024 - men 137, women 32, percentage women 18.9% State Duma - percent vote by party - United Russia 50.9%, CPRF 19.3%, LDPR 7.7%, A Just Russia 7.6%, New People 5.3% other minor parties and independents 9.2%; seats by party - United Russia 324, CPRF 57, LDPR 21, A Just Russia 27, New People 13; Rodina 1, CP 1, Party of Growth 1, independent 5; composition as of February 2024 - men 376, women 74, percentage women 16.4%; total Federal Assembly percentage women 17.1% note 1: the State Duma now includes 3 representatives from the "Republic of Crimea," while the Federation Council includes 2 each from the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City of Sevastopol," both regions that Russia occupied and attempted to annex from Ukraine and that the US does not recognize as part of Russia

Judicial Branch:

• office: all members of Russia's 3 highest courts nominated by the president and appointed by the Federation Council (the upper house of the legislature); members of all 3 courts appointed for life
• subordinate courts: regional (kray) and provincial (oblast) courts; Moscow and St. Petersburg city courts; autonomous province and district courts; note - the 21 Russian Republics have court systems specified by their own constitutions

Regions or States:

• Summary: 46 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respubliki, singular - respublika), 4 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnyye okrugi, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 9 krays (kraya, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast (avtonomnaya oblast') oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad (Gatchina), Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan, Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk) autonomous okrugs: Chukotka (Anadyr'), Khanty-Mansi-Yugra (Khanty-Mansiysk), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard) krays: Altay (Barnaul), Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorskiy [Maritime] (Vladivostok), Stavropol, Zabaykalsk [Transbaikal] (Chita) federal cities: Moscow [Moskva], Saint Petersburg [Sankt-Peterburg] autonomous oblast: Yevreyskaya [Jewish] (Birobidzhan) note 1: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses) note 2: the United States
• does not recognize Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol
• nor their redesignation as the "Republic of Crimea" and the "Federal City of Sevastopol"; it similarly does not recognize the annexation of the Ukrainian oblasts Donetsk
• Luhansk
• Zaporizhzhia
• and Kherson

Political Parties and Leaders:

• A Just Russia or SRZP [Sergey MIRONOV]
• Civic Platform or CP [Rifat SHAYKHUTDINOV]
• Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy ZYUGANOV]
• Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Leonid SLUTSKY]
• New People [Alexey NECHAYEV]
• Party of Growth [Boris TITOV]
• Rodina [Aleksei ZHURAVLYOV]
• United Russia [Dmitriy MEDVEDEV]
• Note: 31 political parties are registered with Russia's Ministry of Justice (as of September 2021); 14 participated in the 2021 election, but only 8 parties maintain representation in Russia's national legislature

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Russia dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 3-5 years

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Capital Name

Moscow

Capital - geographic coordinate

55 45 N, 37 36 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Russia has 11 time zones, the largest number of contiguous time zones of any country in the world; in 2014, two time zones were added and DST dropped

Daylight Savings Time

does not observe daylight savings time (DST)

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International Organization Participation:

• APEC
• Arctic Council
• ARF
• ASEAN (dialogue partner)
• BIS
• BRICS
• BSEC
• CBSS
• CD
• CE
• CERN (observer)
• CICA
• CIS
• CSTO
• EAEC
• EAEU
• EAPC
• EAS
• EBRD
• FAO
• FATF
• G-20
• GCTU
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC (national committees)
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• IMSO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM (observer)
• IPU
• ISO
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• LAIA (observer)
• MIGA
• MINURSO
• MONUSCO
• NEA
• NSG
• OAS (observer)
• OIC (observer)
• OPCW
• OSCE
• Paris Club
• PCA
• PFP
• SCO
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNIDO
• UNISFA
• UNMIL
• UNMISS
• UNOCI
• UN Security Council (permanent)
• UNTSO
• UNWTO
• UPU
• Wassenaar Arrangement
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO
• ZC

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Lynne M. TRACY (30 January 2023)
• Embassy: 55,75566° N, 37,58028° E
• Mailing Address: 5430 Moscow Place, Washington DC 20521-5430
• Telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
• FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
• Email: MoscowACS@state.gov
• Website: https://ru.usembassy.gov/
• Consulate(s) General: Vladivostok (suspended status), Yekaterinburg (suspended status)

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Anatoly Ivanovich ANTONOV (since 8 September 2017)
• Chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700
• FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
• Email: rusembusa@mid.ru
• Website: https://washington.mid.ru/en/
• Consulate(s) General: Houston, New York

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Geographic Location

Asia

Geographic Coordinates

60 00 N, 100 00 E

Total Area

6,601,631 Square Miles 17,098,242 Square Kilometers

Land Area

6,323,446 Square Miles 16,377,742 Square Kilometers

Water Area

278,185 Square Miles 720,500 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

12,577 Miles 20,241 Kilometers

Border Countries

Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 17.5 km, Latvia 292 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 km

Coastline

23,396 Miles 37,653 Kilometers

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Terrain

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

Highest Point

5,633 Meters

Highest Point Location

Gora El'brus 5,633 m (highest point in Europe)

Lowest Point

-28 Meters

Lowest Point Location

Caspian Sea -28 m

Natural Resources

wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, reserves of rare earth elements, timber note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources

Irrigated Land

16,780 Square Miles 43,460 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) time zone note: Russia has 11 time zones, the largest number of contiguous time zones of any country in the world; in 2014, two time zones were added and DST dropped

Daylight saving time

does not observe daylight savings time (DST)

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Climate

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 excellent along the Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia.

In Moscow, Snow begins in October and continues periodically through April, although snowfall in May is not unusual.

Annual rainfall averages 21 inches, with the heaviest rains falling between May and October.

Prevailing winds are southerly and southwesterly.

Due to Moscow's northern location, daylight varies from 7 hours in December to 17 1/2 hours in June.

The average temperature in June and July is 66°F, but the summer temperatures frequently reach the low 90s.

In the winter, the temperature may fall to minus 40°F, but the average December and January temperature is 14°F.

Though Moscow's winter air is usually dry, the wind chill factor makes the temperature feel much colder.

The climate in St.

Petersburg is milder than in Moscow but is damp and misty.

Average temperatures are 64°F in July and 17°F in January.

St.

Petersburg is famous for its "white nights," which occur in June when the sun shines for nearly 19 hours and sunset only brings semidarkness.

The climate in Vladivostok is milder than in many other Russian cities due to its location on the Pacific Ocean.

Winter temperatures range between -68°F and 25°F.

Terrain

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

Location

North Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean, extending from Europe (the portion west of the Urals) to the North Pacific Ocean

Total Area

6,601,631 Square Miles 17,098,242 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 290 km, Finland 1,313 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 17.5 km, Latvia 292 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,441 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 432 km, Ukraine 1,576 km

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Environment - Current Issues

• air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities
• industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts
• deforestation
• soil erosion
• soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals
• scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination
• groundwater contamination from toxic waste
• urban solid waste management
• abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

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Exports

$530,700,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$335,400,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, metals, wood and wood products, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures

Major Imports

machinery, vehicles, pharmaceutical products, plastic, semi-finished metal products, meat, fruits and nuts, optical and medical instruments, iron, steel

Top Export Partners

Netherlands 12.2%, China 6.4%, Italy 5.6%, Germany 4.6%, Poland 4.2%

Top Import Partners

China 15.5%, Germany 10%, Ukraine 6.6%, Italy 4.3%

Export Partners

Netherlands 12.2%, China 6.4%, Italy 5.6%, Germany 4.6%, Poland 4.2%

Import Partners

China 15.5%, Germany 10%, Ukraine 6.6%, Italy 4.3%

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Country Description

Russia is a vast and diverse nation that continues to evolve politically, economically, and socially.

Most U.S. citizens find their stay in Russia both exciting and rewarding, but travel and living conditions in Russia contrast sharply with those in the United States.

Major urban centers show tremendous differences in economic development compared to rural areas.

While good tourist facilities exist in Moscow, St.

Petersburg, and some other large cities, they are not developed in most of Russia, and some of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available.

Russian visa requirements are complex, and U.S. citizens must take care they do not unintentionally violate entry and exit regulations.

Travel to the North Caucasus region of Russia is dangerous; the Department of State recommends that U.S. citizens do not travel to Chechnya and the rest of the North Caucasus region, including Mt.

Elbrus.

When traveling in Russia, U.S. citizens are subject to Russian law, and may not enjoy the same legal protections they have in the United States.

Safety & Security

• Terrorism: Acts of terrorism, including bombings and hostage takings, continue to occur in Russia, particularly in the North Caucasus region. However, in the past several years, Moscow and St. Petersburg have also been the targets of terrorist attacks. Additionally, between October 15 – December 30, 2013 there were three suicide bombings targeting public transportation in the city of Volgograd, two of which occurred during the same 24-hour period. Other bombings have occurred at Russian government buildings, airports, hotels, tourist sites, markets, entertainment venues, schools, and residential complexes, and on public transportation including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights. Extremist groups occasionally threaten to set off bombs in market areas of major cities that are operated largely by migrant workers. Large-scale public events also present an attractive target for terrorists. There is no indication that U.S. institutions or citizens have been targets, but there is a general risk of U.S. citizens becoming victims of indiscriminate terrorist attacks. U.S. citizens in Russia should be aware of their personal surroundings and follow good security practices. U.S. citizens are urged to remain vigilant and exercise good judgment and discretion when using any form of public transportation. When traveling, U.S. citizens may wish to provide a friend, family member, or coworker a copy of their itinerary. In the event the U.S. Government receives information of any specific and credible threat, the Department of State will immediately provide information to the public.
• Demonstrations: U.S. citizens should avoid public demonstrations, whether properly authorized or not, and avoid any large crowds and public gatherings that lack enhanced security measures. Occasional peaceful demonstrations taking place near the U.S. Embassy do not generally interfere with public services, but U.S. citizens should avoid them when possible. Travelers should also exercise a high degree of caution and remain alert when patronizing restaurants, casinos, nightclubs, bars, theaters, etc., especially during peak hours of business. Mt.
• Elbrus: Mt. Elbrus has become an increasingly popular destination for adventure travelers wishing to climb the highest mountain in Europe. However, the security situation in the regions surrounding the mountain remains highly unstable. The U.S. Embassy recommends against attempting to climb Mt. Elbrus, as it can only be done by passing close to volatile and insecure areas of the North Caucasus region. Stay informed about the security of the area by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Country Specific Information, as well as the Worldwide Caution. If you do not have Internet access, call us for updates --1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or from elsewhere on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. You can also call the U.S. Embassy i

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Crime

• city: keep wallets in inner front pockets, carry purses tucked securely under arms, wear the shoulder strap of cameras or bags across the chest, walk away from the curb, and carry purses and other bags away from the street. The most vulnerable areas include underground walkways, the subway, overnight trains, train stations, airports, markets, tourist attractions, and restaurants. Foreigner travelers who have been drinking alcohol are especially vulnerable to assault and robbery in or around nightclubs or bars, or on their way home. Some travelers have been drugged at bars, while others have taken strangers back to their lodgings, where they were drugged, robbed and/or assaulted. Internet Dating
• Schemes: Reports of fraud committed against U.S. citizens by internet correspondents professing love and romantic interest are common. Typically, the correspondent asks the U.S. citizen to send money or credit card information for living expenses, travel expenses, or "visa costs." The nature of the internet means that you cannot be sure of the real name, age, marital status, nationality, or even gender of the correspondent. We have received many reports of citizens losing thousands of dollars through such scams. Never send money to anyone you have not met in person. Please review our information on Internet Dating Schemes. Turkey Drop
• Scam: A common street scam in Russia is the "turkey drop" in which an individual "accidentally" drops money on the ground in front of an intended victim, while an accomplice either waits for the money to be picked up, or picks up the money him/herself and offers to split it with the pedestrian. The individual who dropped the currency then returns, aggressively accusing both of stealing the money. This confrontation generally results in the theft of the pedestrian's money. Avoidance is the best defense. Do not get trapped into picking up the money, and walk quickly away from the scene. Drug
• Crimes: The Russian media report that the drug GHB is reportedly gaining popularity in local nightclubs, under the names butyrate or oxybutyrate. This drug can also cause amnesia, loss of consciousness, and/or extreme intoxication when mixed with alcohol, and death. The drug, typically in the form of a capful of liquid mixed with a beverage, gained notoriety in the United States after incidents of date-rape and death. In many cases, stolen credit cards are used immediately. Victims of credit card or ATM card theft should report the theft to the credit card company or issuing bank immediately. Back to Top Crimes Involving Public Transportation/Highway
• Crime: Travelers should be vigilant in bus and train stations and when taking other public transportation. Bogus trolley inspectors, whose aim is to extort a bribe from individuals while checking for trolley tickets, are also a threat. Travelers have generally found it safer to travel in groups organized by reputable tour agencies. We discourage the use of unmarked taxis, as passengers have been victims of robbery, kidnapping, extortion, and theft. Criminals use these unmarked taxis to rob passengers, and often wait outside bars or rest

Criminal Penalties

While traveling in Russia, you are subject to its laws.

This is true even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from those in the United States and criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but are still considered illegal in the United States.

For example, U.S. citizens can be prosecuted under U.S. law if they buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or the use and/or dissemination of child pornography in a foreign country is also a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Russia, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

Therefore, it is very important to know what is legal and what is not legal in the country you are visiting.

Languages Russian (official) 85.7%, Tatar 3.2%, Chechen 1%, other 10.1%; note - data represent native language spoken

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Medical Facilities

Medical care in most localities is below Western standards due to shortages of medical supplies, differing practice standards and the lack of comprehensive primary care.

Those facilities in Moscow and St.

Petersburg with higher standards do not necessarily accept all cases.

Access to these facilities usually requires cash or credit card payment at Western rates at the time of service.

The U.S.

Social Security Medicare Program does not provide coverage for hospital or medical costs in Russia.

Elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk.

We do not recommend elective surgeries requiring blood transfusions and/or non-essential blood transfusions due to uncertainties surrounding the local blood supply.

Most hospitals and clinics in major urban areas have adopted the use of disposable IV supplies, syringes, and needles as standard practice.

However, travelers to remote areas might consider bringing a supply of sterile, disposable syringes and corresponding IV supplies.

We recommend travelers do not visit tattoo parlors or piercing services due to the risk of infection.

Outbreaks of diphtheria and hepatitis A have been reported throughout the country, even in large cities such as Moscow and St.

Petersburg.

The U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend up-to-date tetanus and diphtheria immunizations before traveling to Russia and neighboring countries.

Typhoid can be a concern for those who plan to travel extensively in the region.

Cases of cholera have rarely been reported throughout the area.

Travelers can reduce the risk of exposure to infectious and noxious agents by drinking bottled water and using bottled water for food or drink preparation.

Tap water is generally unsafe to drink outside of Moscow.

Tuberculosis is also an increasingly serious health concern in Russia.

For further information about tuberculosis, please consult the CDC's information on Tuberculosis.

HIV infection rates have risen markedly in recent years.

While most prevalent among intravenous drug users, prostitutes and their clients, the HIV/AIDS rate in the general population is increasing.

Reported cases of syphilis are much higher than in the United States, and some sources suggest that gonorrhea and chlamydia are also more prevalent in Russia than in Western Europe or the United States.

Travelers may obtain information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, from the CDC hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC website.

For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the infectious diseases section of the World Health Organization (WHO) website.

The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information.

Alternative Medical Treatments: Foreigners occasionally travel to Russia to receive medical treatment that is more expensive or prohibited in the United States, including stem-cell therapy and surrogate birthing.

These treatments may involve considerable risks.

Standards of infection control in both surgical and postoperative care may be inadequate.

Patients undergoing treatment often develop secondary infections that cannot be handled by the facilities offering the procedures, and must be admitted to local hospitals of uncertain quality.

In these cases, the patient is responsible for all additional costs, including repatriation back to the United States.

Traffic Safety

You may encounter road conditions and driver safety norms that differ significantly from those in the United States.

As a pedestrian, exercise great care near traffic, as vehicles frequently fail to yield to pedestrians.

In some areas of Russia, roads are practically nonexistent.

When driving, adhere to all local driving regulations, as they are strictly enforced and violators are subject to severe legal penalties.

Russia practices a zero-tolerance policy with regard to alcohol consumption prior to driving.

The maximum punishment is a two-year suspension of a driver's license.

Authorities may detain an intoxicated driver until they determine that he or she is sober.

Avoid excessive speed and, if possible, do not drive at night, particularly outside of major cities.

In rural areas, it is not uncommon to find livestock crossing roadways at any given time.

Construction sites or stranded vehicles are often unmarked by flares or other warning signals.

Sometimes cars have only one working headlight and many cars lack taillights.

Bicycles seldom have lights or reflectors.

Due to these road conditions, be prepared for sudden stops at any time.

Learn about your route from an auto club, guidebook, or government tourist office.

Some routes have heavy truck and bus traffic, while others have poor or nonexistent shoulders; many are one-way or do not permit left turns.

In addition, some of the newer roads have very few restaurants, motels, gas stations, or auto repair shops along their routes.

For your safety, have your vehicle serviced and in optimum condition before you travel.

It is also wise to bring an extra fan belt, fuses, and other spare parts.

In the Russian Far East most vehicles are right-side drive, affording the drivers limited visibility on two-lane roads.

If you are involved in an automobile accident while in Russia, leave your car in the location where the accident occurred and wait for local officials to arrive.

Do not move your car from the location where the accident occurred or you may be held liable even if you are not at fault.

Drivers may have to wait several hours for local police to arrive at the scene.

Temporary visitors to Russia may drive for up to 60 days with a valid U.S. driver's license and a notarized Russian translation.

Tourists may also use International Driving Permits issued by the American Automobile Association or the American Automobile Touring Alliance to drive in Russia.

Russian law requires foreigners on business or employment visas or with permanent residence status to have a Russian driver's license.

In order to obtain this license one has to take the appropriate exams in Russian.

Travelers may not use a U.S. driver's license in place of a Russian license.

Travelers without a valid license are often subject to prolonged stops by police.

Drivers must carry third-party liability insurance under a policy valid in Russia.

U.S. automobile liability insurance is not valid in Russia, nor are most collision and comprehensive coverage policies issued by U.S. companies.

A good rule of thumb is to buy coverage equivalent to that which you carry in the United States.

Roadside checkpoints are commonplace and are ostensibly in place to detect narcotics, alien smuggling, and firearms violations.

However, traffic police sometimes use these checkpoints to extract cash "fines."

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Airports - total

1,218

Airports with Paved Runways

594

Heliports

49

Railways

54,157 Miles 87,157 Kilometers

Roadways- total

797,459 Miles 1,283,387 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

576,459 Miles 927,721 Kilometers

Waterways

63,380 Miles 102,000 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Kaliningrad, Kavkaz, Nakhodka, Novorossiysk, Primorsk, Saint Petersburg, Vostochnyy

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Pipelines: Condensate

76 Miles 122 Kilometers

Pipelines: Gas

101,825 Miles 163,872 Kilometers

Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

856 Miles 1,378 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

50,219 Miles 80,820 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil/Gas/Water

249 Miles 401 Kilometers

Pipelines: Refined Products

8,487 Miles 13,658 Kilometers

Pipelines: Water

14 Miles 23 Kilometers

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Telephones

44,152,000

Cell Phones

236,700,000

Internet Users

40,853,000

Internet Country Code

.ru

Internet Hosts

14,865,000

Broadcast Media

• 6 national TV stations with the federal government owning 1 and holding a controlling interest in a second
• state-owned Gazprom maintains a controlling interest in a third national channel
• government-affiliated Bank Rossiya owns controlling interest in a fourth and fifth, while the sixth national channel is owned by the Moscow city administration
• roughly 3,300 national, regional, and local TV stations with over two-thirds completely or partially controlled by the federal or local governments
• satellite TV services are available
• 2 state-run national radio networks with a third majority-owned by Gazprom
• roughly 2,400 public and commercial radio stations

Telephone System

• assessment: the telephone system is experiencing significant changes; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer communication services; access to digital lines has improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy; the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1 million in 1998 to more than 235 million in 2011; fixed line service has improved but a large demand remains
• domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density
• international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally by undersea fiber optic cables; satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita systems

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,038,000,000,000

Electricity Exports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

19,140,000,000

Electricity Imports- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

2,661,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

1,064,000,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

457,200,000,000

Natural Gas Exports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

196,000,000,000

Natural Gas Imports- Cubic Meters (cu m)

32,500,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

669,700,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

47,800,000,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

3,196,000

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

4,720,000

Oil Imports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

16,380

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

10,370,000

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

80,000,000,000

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Anthem History

• name: "Gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii" (National Anthem of the Russian Federation)
• lyrics/music: Sergey Vladimirovich MIKHALKOV/Aleksandr Vasilyevich ALEKSANDROV
• note: in 2000, Russia adopted the tune of the anthem of the former Soviet Union (composed in 1939); the lyrics, also adopted in 2000, were written by the same person who authored the Soviet lyrics in 1943

Anthem Lyrics

SoyUz nerushImiy respUblik svobOdnykh SplotIla navEki velIkaya RUs'! Da zdrAvstvuet sOzdanniy vOley narOdov VelIkiy, mogUchiy SovEtskiy SoyUz!

SlAvsya OtEchestvo nAshe svobOdnoye, DrUzhbi narOdov nadyOzhniy oplOt, PArtiya LEnina, sIla narOdnaya NAs k torzhestvU kommunIzma vedyOt! Skvoz tUchi siyAlo nam sOlntse svobOdi, I LEnin velIkiy nam pUt' ozarIl, Na prAvoe dElo on pOdnyal narOdi, Na trUd i na pOdvigi nAs vdokhnovIl!

SlAvsya OtEchestvo nAshe svobOdnoye, DrUzhbi narOdov nadyOzhniy oplOt, PArtiya LEnina, sIla narOdnaya NAs k torzhestvU kommunIzma vedyOt! V pobEde velIkikh idEy kommunIzma Mi vIdim gryadUtshee nAshey stranI, I krAsnomu znAmeni slAvnoy OtchIzni Mi bUdem vsegdA bezzavEtno vernI!

SlAvsya OtEchestvo nAshe svobOdnoye, DrUzhbi narOdov nadyOzhniy oplOt, PArtiya LEnina, sIla narOdnaya NAs k torzhestvU kommunIzma vedyOt! (Capital letters in the middle of the words show the stressed syllables)

Anthem Lyrics English

• way: Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us, Inspire us to labor and valorous deed!] Sing to the Motherland, home of the free, Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong. O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people, To Communism's triumph lead us on! In the vict'ry of Communism's deathless ideal, We see the future of our dear land. And to her fluttering scarlet banner, Selflessly true we always shall stand! The Hymn of the Soviet Union (CPSU Version) Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics, Great Russia has welded forever to stand. Created in struggle by will of the people, United and mighty, our Soviet land! Sing to the Motherland, home of the free, Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong. O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people, To Communism's triumph lead us on! Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us, Along the new path where great Lenin did lead. To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples, Inspired them to labor and valorous deed. [Or, the old
• way: Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us, Inspire us to labor and valorous deed!] Sing to the Motherland, home of the free, Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong. O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people, To Communism's triumph lead us on! In the vict'ry of Communism's deathless ideal, We see the future of our dear land. And to her fluttering scarlet banner, Selflessly true we always shall stand!