Russia : Country overview

Geography

• Full country name: Russian Federation.
• Population: 139million.
• Border countries: it is located in the eastern part of Europe and the northern part of Asia, stretching from the Baltic states in the West to Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China in the east, and reaching close to northern Japan and the Pacific Ocean.
• Climate: due to the sheer size of Russia, the climate differs widely from one border to the other. In Siberia and to the east of the Ural mountains, temperatures often reach below -30°C in winter. The temperature in summer in Moscow climbs as high as 25°C.
• Terrain: the terrain varies from low plains to coniferous forest and ancient mountain ranges.
• Natural hazards: there are a few active volcanoes in Russia but these are not close to vastly populated areas, and are less dangerous than the permafrost that affects much of the country in winter.

Living in Russia

• Cost of living: Although the cost of living in Russia has increased over the last few years, everyday living costs remain comparably low. Accommodation is affordable, transportation is cheap and convenient and utilities are reasonable.
• Internet domain: .ru, рф (Cyrillic .rf  for Russian Federation).
• Health: standards of health are lower than in the UK, due to air pollution caused by heavy industry, and lifestyle differences, such as the importance of strong alcohol in Russian culture. There is a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK entitling UK citizens to free hospital treatment. Blood transfusions are to be avoided. Vaccination against hepatitis A and typhoid is recommended in some areas. There has been an increase in HIV/AIDS and STIs in recent years.
• Laws and customs: penalties for drug possession are not as harsh as in some Western countries and, as of 2004, possession of small amounts of drugs (ten times what is considered a ‘single dose’) no longer results in a jail sentence. However, what constitutes a single dose is open to some interpretation, and penalties for higher amounts are extremely severe. Homosexuality is no longer illegal in Russia, but attitudes are slow to change and compared with many European countries there remains some prejudice. Same sex couples do not have the right to marry or adopt, and there is no law tackling work discrimination or hate crime towards homosexual and transgender men or women. Some racially motivated attacks by skinhead gangs occur, particularly around the date of Adolf Hitler’s birthday in April. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warns visitors of Asian and Afro-Caribbean descent to take due caution around this time.

Economy and finance

• Currency: the ruble (RUB).
• Type of economy: market economy.
• Health of economy: in 2009 Russia was the world's largest exporter of natural gas, the second largest exporter of oil, and the third largest exporter of steel and primary aluminum. Russia is dependent on these exports and so is easily affected by changes in commodity prices. The economy was hit hard by the recent recession but there are signs of growth.
• Unemployment rate: the official unemployment rate in 2008 was 5.9%.
• Main exports: Russia has the largest natural gas reserves in the world, and is the world’s largest exporter of gas, as well as the second largest oil exporter. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of Russian exports.

Culture

• People: 80% of the people of Russia are Russian, 4% Tatar, 2% Ukrainian, 1% Chuvash, 1% Bashkir and there are numerous ethnic minorities.
• Major religion: Russian Orthodox (15-20%), Muslim (10-15%), other Christian (2%).
• History: Russia has a fascinating history, particularly its political history in the past century - see BBC Timeline: Russia.
• Local etiquette: Social and business interaction tends to be formal and hierarchy is important. Business cards should be in Russian with details of any advance degree qualifications.

Politics

• Type of government: Russia is a Federal Republic. It is semi-Presidential, and power is shared between the President and Prime Minister.
• Major political parties: United Russia, the Communist Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Yabloko and A Just Russia.

Travel advice

Find the latest travel advice and a travellers' checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.