Russia Population | Data and Charts, 1900-2013

146,544.7 thousand people currently live in Russia as of January 1, 2016 according to Russian Federal State Statistics Service estimate. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs gives another estimate - 143,456.9 thousand persons. The difference of about 3 million persons is because data from Russian national statistical service include population of the Crimea since 2015, while international agencies like UN or World Bank does not consider the Crimea as a part of Russia. As of January 1, 2015 population of the Crimea was estimated at 2,294.9 thousand persons.
With or without the Crimea, Russia is nineth most populated country in the world accounting for 2% of total world population. However, due to the huge land area - the biggest in the world - population density in Russia is only 9 persons per square kilometre as of 2015.
Moreover Russian statistical service also provides more optimistic population forecast according to which population will be increasing till 2025 and then will start to decline. But as for UN projections, Russian population is already declining, so that in 2016 it will be 17 thousands lower than in 2015.
As of 2010 population census, population in Russia was 143,436.1 thousand persons.

The current population of the Russian Federation is 143,5 million people. Starting from 1991 total fertility rate in Russia is below 1.9, which means that, on average, every woman gives birth to less than 2 children. Population division of the UN expects Russia population to decrease to 120 million people by 2050.