Russia: General facts
Geography & Climate. Political Situation. Population. Language. Living Standards. Culture & Social Life. People. Religion. International time. Business hours. Holidays. Weights and measures. Dates and numbers.
Oct 29, 2001
Geography & Climate. Russia is the largest country in the world, covering 17.1 million square kilometers - it is 70 times the size of the UK and nearly twice the size of the USA. It spans 11 time zones. Russia stretches from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean, from the Arctic Sea to the Altai mountains.
Russia has generally long cold winters and brief hot summers. In Moscow, January temperatures can easily drop to -20C (-68F) whilst in July and August temperatures of 30C (86F) and above are not uncommon.
Political Situation. Now, that the March 2000 presidential elections are over, the country's political situation has been steadily improving. Vladimir Putin was elected as Russia's second president. Boris Yeltsin, who had been in power since December 1991, stepped down on the eve of year 2000. Vladimir Putin is admired by Russians for his firm and decisive Chechen war campaign, which turned him into the most popular political in Russia.
Business circles are optimistic about Putin and the market mood remains quite positive. Representatives from various branches of Russian industry consider Putin's victory in the first round to be logical and expect that he will continue with positive economic trends and will strengthen the rule of law in the country. Experts say that serious foreign investors will return to Russia only after the country's new government unveils its strategy and shows some results.
Population. Of a population of about 145.5 million, nearly 80% are concentrated in Western Russia. Moscow, the largest city in Europe, has a population of 11 million people, and St. Petersburg (former Leningrad) has 5 million inhabitants. Around two-thirds of the population now live in cities. The population size is currently on the decline. Pensioners constitute 23% of the population and the average family size is three people. The average life expectancy rate is much lower than that of other developed countries.
Language. Russian, (not surprisingly!), is the country's official language. It uses the Cyrillic alphabet (rather than the Latin one used by most Western countries), and contains 33 letters. However, the 120 or so nationalities of the Commonwealth of Independent States speak about 48 other languages. Those of Slavic origin (i.e. Russians, Ukrainians and Belorussians) account for approximately 75% of the total population.
In Moscow or St Petersburg it is not uncommon to find Russians who speak European languages, especially English.
Living Standards. The Soviet system provided accommodation with very low rents, free social services, subsidized vacations, assisted factory canteens, shops and sports facilities. Few of these remain. Prior to price liberalization, food, drink, cigarettes, public transport and utilities were also very cheap.
Today the recent reforms have forced a significant share of the population (especially pensioners) below the poverty line as inflation has outstripped increases in state benefits. There is a developing middle/commercial class involved in legitimate business. Only a very small proportion have become extremely wealthy, commonly known as 'novye Russkie.'
Culture & Social Life. Theatre, cinema, music and arts are important parts of Russian life; as with other countries funding has fallen for these, and private sponsorship is emerging. Features of Russian culture, which are at the highest of international standards, include the Bolshoi Theatre, Pushkin Art Gallery in Moscow and Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Russians also spend a considerable amount of their leisure time at the homes of friends and relatives - they place much importance on friendship and family. Consequently anniversaries and birthdays are celebrated with more gusto than expatriates may be used to at home.
People. Generally, those new to Russia find its people very hospitable and warm. On visiting any Russian home, you will be very well entertained. The Western habit of only offering tea or coffee is considered unfriendly. It is polite to take something with you when you visit, for example flowers, chocolates or alcoholic spirits.
Traditionally people entertain at home. Conversations tend to be general rather than personal. Some Russian people greatly enjoy philosophizing about life and will spend hours doing so. They are keen to find out about other countries.
Religion. Russian Orthodoxy is the main religion in Russian, followed to a lesser extent by Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism. Religion has become more popular in Russia over the last few years as the Russian Orthodox Church has received official encouragement through the return of property confiscated during the Soviet period. The rebuilding of Christ the Saviour Cathedral (in Moscow) is symbolic of the restoration of the right to practice a religion in Russia, and this development has evoked much emotion amongst Russian (and foreign) people alike.
International time. Moscow and St. Petersburg are three hours ahead of London time and eight hours ahead of New York time. Vladivostok is seven hours ahead of Moscow. Travel time to Moscow is about 3 hours and 35 minutes by air from London or Paris, 9 hours from New York, and 10 hours and 25 minutes from Tokyo.
Business hours. Offices are generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Holidays. Official public holidays are as follows.
Weights and measures. Russia has used the metric system since 1927.
Dates and numbers. Russia uses the Western (Gregorian) calendar. Dates are written in the order day, month, year, e.g., 30/6/99 (30 June 1999). In writing numbers, a comma generally represents a decimal fraction, but there is no fixed rule.
Reprinted by the courtesy of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia
Russia has generally long cold winters and brief hot summers. In Moscow, January temperatures can easily drop to -20C (-68F) whilst in July and August temperatures of 30C (86F) and above are not uncommon.
Political Situation. Now, that the March 2000 presidential elections are over, the country's political situation has been steadily improving. Vladimir Putin was elected as Russia's second president. Boris Yeltsin, who had been in power since December 1991, stepped down on the eve of year 2000. Vladimir Putin is admired by Russians for his firm and decisive Chechen war campaign, which turned him into the most popular political in Russia.
Business circles are optimistic about Putin and the market mood remains quite positive. Representatives from various branches of Russian industry consider Putin's victory in the first round to be logical and expect that he will continue with positive economic trends and will strengthen the rule of law in the country. Experts say that serious foreign investors will return to Russia only after the country's new government unveils its strategy and shows some results.
Population. Of a population of about 145.5 million, nearly 80% are concentrated in Western Russia. Moscow, the largest city in Europe, has a population of 11 million people, and St. Petersburg (former Leningrad) has 5 million inhabitants. Around two-thirds of the population now live in cities. The population size is currently on the decline. Pensioners constitute 23% of the population and the average family size is three people. The average life expectancy rate is much lower than that of other developed countries.
Language. Russian, (not surprisingly!), is the country's official language. It uses the Cyrillic alphabet (rather than the Latin one used by most Western countries), and contains 33 letters. However, the 120 or so nationalities of the Commonwealth of Independent States speak about 48 other languages. Those of Slavic origin (i.e. Russians, Ukrainians and Belorussians) account for approximately 75% of the total population.
In Moscow or St Petersburg it is not uncommon to find Russians who speak European languages, especially English.
Living Standards. The Soviet system provided accommodation with very low rents, free social services, subsidized vacations, assisted factory canteens, shops and sports facilities. Few of these remain. Prior to price liberalization, food, drink, cigarettes, public transport and utilities were also very cheap.
Today the recent reforms have forced a significant share of the population (especially pensioners) below the poverty line as inflation has outstripped increases in state benefits. There is a developing middle/commercial class involved in legitimate business. Only a very small proportion have become extremely wealthy, commonly known as 'novye Russkie.'
Culture & Social Life. Theatre, cinema, music and arts are important parts of Russian life; as with other countries funding has fallen for these, and private sponsorship is emerging. Features of Russian culture, which are at the highest of international standards, include the Bolshoi Theatre, Pushkin Art Gallery in Moscow and Mariinsky (Kirov) Theatre and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Russians also spend a considerable amount of their leisure time at the homes of friends and relatives - they place much importance on friendship and family. Consequently anniversaries and birthdays are celebrated with more gusto than expatriates may be used to at home.
People. Generally, those new to Russia find its people very hospitable and warm. On visiting any Russian home, you will be very well entertained. The Western habit of only offering tea or coffee is considered unfriendly. It is polite to take something with you when you visit, for example flowers, chocolates or alcoholic spirits.
Traditionally people entertain at home. Conversations tend to be general rather than personal. Some Russian people greatly enjoy philosophizing about life and will spend hours doing so. They are keen to find out about other countries.
Religion. Russian Orthodoxy is the main religion in Russian, followed to a lesser extent by Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism. Religion has become more popular in Russia over the last few years as the Russian Orthodox Church has received official encouragement through the return of property confiscated during the Soviet period. The rebuilding of Christ the Saviour Cathedral (in Moscow) is symbolic of the restoration of the right to practice a religion in Russia, and this development has evoked much emotion amongst Russian (and foreign) people alike.
International time. Moscow and St. Petersburg are three hours ahead of London time and eight hours ahead of New York time. Vladivostok is seven hours ahead of Moscow. Travel time to Moscow is about 3 hours and 35 minutes by air from London or Paris, 9 hours from New York, and 10 hours and 25 minutes from Tokyo.
Business hours. Offices are generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Holidays. Official public holidays are as follows.
- New Year's Day - January 1, 2,3,4,5
Orthodox Christmas - January 7
Motherland Defenders' Day - February 23
International Women's Day - March 8
International Labor Day - May 1
Victory Day - May 9
National Unity's Day - November 4
Weights and measures. Russia has used the metric system since 1927.
Dates and numbers. Russia uses the Western (Gregorian) calendar. Dates are written in the order day, month, year, e.g., 30/6/99 (30 June 1999). In writing numbers, a comma generally represents a decimal fraction, but there is no fixed rule.
Reprinted by the courtesy of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia