Russian Federation · Eastern Europe
View on the interactive map →| Capital | Moscow |
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| Population | 144.5 million |
| Area | 17,098,242 km² (6,601,665 mi²) |
| Official language(s) | Russian |
| Currency | Russian ruble (₽) |
| Region | Europe |
| Subregion | Eastern Europe |
| Continent | Europe |
| Demonym | Russian |
| Calling code | +7 |
| Time zone | Europe/Moscow |
| Government type | Federal semi-presidential republic (strong executive) |
|---|---|
| Major political parties | United Russia, Communist Party, LDPR, and others |
| Major religions | Russian Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Unaffiliated |
| Important cities | Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan |
Independence / founding: Russian Federation succeeded the USSR, 1991; Kievan Rus origins (9th c.)
Growing from medieval Kievan Rus and the Grand Duchy of Moscow, Russia became a vast empire under the tsars. The 1917 revolution created the Soviet Union, a Cold War superpower. After the USSR dissolved in 1991, the Russian Federation emerged as the world's largest country by area.
| National animal / bird | Eurasian brown bear (cultural); double-headed eagle |
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| National dish | Borscht, pelmeni, blini |
| Music | Classical (Tchaikovsky); folk |
| National sport | Football, ice hockey |