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Russia

Europe Β· 144 million

About Russia

Russia, officially the Russian Federation, is a sovereign country located in Europe, specifically within the Eastern Europe subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Moscow, and the country is home to approximately 146 million people. In its native language, the country is known as β€œΠ ΠΎΡΡΠΈΡβ€. Russian serves as the primary official language, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Russia. The official currency in circulation is the Russian ruble (β‚½), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Russia is widely recognised for Red Square, vodka and Tolstoy's literature. People from Russia are referred to as Russian.

Geography & climate

Russia covers approximately 17.10 million kmΒ² of territory, making it one of the largest countries in the world by land area. It shares land borders with 14 neighbouring countries β€” a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Russia sits in the Northern and Eastern Hemisphere, at roughly 60.0Β° N, 100.0Β° E. Because of its size and geography, the country spans 9 time zones, ranging from UTC+03:00 in the west to UTC+12:00 in the east β€” a logistical consideration for travel, broadcasting, and commerce. The prevailing climate of Russia can be summarised as: vast plains & taiga with long, harsh winters. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 146 million inhabitants, Russia is one of the more populous nations on Earth. The principal spoken language is Russian, which dominates public life, schooling, signage, and the workplace. Locals refer to their homeland as β€œΠ ΠΎΡΡΠΈΡβ€, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Russian, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the Russian ruble (β‚½) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Russia should familiarise themselves with the capital, Moscow, the relevant local time zone for their destination, the local currency (Russian ruble). The international dialling prefix is +7, which is required when phoning a Russia number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .ru, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Russia is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Russia is generally classified within the Europe region and more specifically the Eastern Europe subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.

Bordering countries

Russia shares land borders with 14 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Spanning 11 time zones, this vast nation experiences simultaneous sunrise and yesterday β€” a temporal paradox of continental proportions.

Russia in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Russia appears as an easier opening puzzle for new players. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints β€” silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city β€” before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Russia carries the personality tags β€œβ„οΈ Vast Northern Land” and β€œπŸ“š Literary Giant”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Russia to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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