A huge number of nationalities live on the territory of Russia - more than 180. The number of the largest ethnic groups is several million people, the smallest - several hundred.
How the territory of Russia was formed
The abundance of various nations and nationalities living on the territory of Russia largely depends on the history of its formation. Since ancient times, the Scythians lived on this territory. Also, part of modern Russia was occupied by the Turks. Khazars lived in the region of the Volga region and the North Caucasus, and Bulgars lived in the Kama region. The Old Russian nation was formed from the tribes of the Krivichi, Drevlyans, Slovenians, Vyatichi, and Northerners. Also, its development was influenced by the Finno-Ugric peoples. Thus, the ancient Russian state was multinational from the very beginning of its existence.
From the 14-15th century, when the Russians expelled the Tatar-Mongol invaders from their lands, the rapid development of the state began. Tsarist Russia formed a strong army, which helped annex the territories of the Volga region, the Caucasus, Siberia, the Far East, the Urals and the North. So, several new nationalities entered the structure of Russia. Ukraine and Belarus were also part of Russia, but separated after the collapse of the USSR. On the other hand, representatives of many nationalities living in the territory of the Soviet Union, at one time moved to Russia, where they still live.
What nationalities are part of Russia
Of the many Russian nations and nationalities, only a few have significant numbers - Tatars and Bashkirs, Chuvashs, Mordovians, Chechens and Ingush, Avars and Dargins, Yakuts and Udmurts. Also, on the territory of Russia, there is a large number of residents belonging to the nation to other states - Ukrainians, Belarusians, Armenians, Kazakhs, Azerbaijanis.
The most widespread, after Russians, nationality is Tatars. They live in the Volga region and Crimea. Also Mordovians and Mari live there. Bashkirs live in the central part of Russia. The western part of the country is inhabited by the Chuvash, Siberia by the Yakuts, Altai and Khakass, the west of the region by the Buryats, Khanty and Mansi, and the east by the Evenks. The Nenets, Chukchi, Aleuts live in the Far North, and Karelians in the north-west of the country. The Caucasus is occupied by Kabardians, Circassians, Lezgins, Chechens, Ingush, Circassians, Ossetians. Kalmyks live in the Caspian region.
The most numerous nationalities form autonomous republics and districts. There are 22 of them in total: Udmurtia, Chechnya, Ingushetia, Chuvashia, Tatarstan, Mordovia, Karelia, Yakutia, Khakassia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Dagestan, Komi, Adygea, North Ossetia, Karachay-Cherkessia, Tuva, Buryatia, Mari Altai, Bashkiria, Kalmykia, Crimea. There are 5 autonomous regions in Russia: Khanty-Mansi, Chukotka, Nenets, Crimean and Yamalo-Nenets. Also, according to the names of nationalities, some settlements and geographical objects of Russia are named - for example, the city of Khanty-Mansiysk.
