Russia has a population of 143.4 million and its capital is Moscow. The economy relies heavily on natural resources like oil, gas, and minerals. GDP was $3.38 trillion in 2013, with GDP growth of 1.8% in early 2013. The monetary and fiscal policies have helped achieve low inflation in recent years. Foreign investment remains low due to instability and an underdeveloped banking system, though mergers and acquisitions have increased. Natural resources, especially oil and gas, dominate exports and the strategic sectors of the economy.
4. Folk Culture
There are over 160 different ethnic groups and
indigenous peoples in Russia.
The most notable are :
Ethnic Russians with
their Slavic Orthodox traditions
Tatars and Bashkir with their Turkic Muslim culture
Buddhist nomadic Buryats and Kalmyks
Shamanistic peoples of the Extreme North and Siberia
Highlanders of the Northern Caucasus
Finno-Ugric peoples of the Russian North West and Volga
Region
5. Cuisine
Russian cuisine widely uses :
• Fish
• Poultry
• Mushrooms
• Berries
• Honey
Crops of rye, wheat, barley, and millet provide the
ingredients for various breads, pancakes and
cereals, beer and vodka drinks.
6. ARCHITECTURE
Since the Christianization
of Kievan Rus' for several
ages Russian architecture
was influenced
predominantly by
the Byzantine
architecture. Apart from
fortifications , the main
stone buildings of ancient
Rus' were Orthodox
churches with their
many domes, often gilded
or brightly painted.
7. VISUAL ARTS
Early Russian painting
is represented
in icons and
vibrant frescos, the two
genres inherited
from Byzantium. As
Moscow rose to
power, Theophanes
the Greek,
Dionisius and Andrei
Rublev became vital
names associated with a
distinctly Russian art.
8. MUSIC AND DANCE
Music is prevalent in
Russia post the 19th
century.
During the early 20th
century, Russian ballet
dancers Anna
Pavlova and Vasla
v Nijinsky rose to
fame, and
impresario Sergei
Diaghilev and
his Ballets Russes' travels
abroad profoundly
influenced the
development of dance
worldwide.
9. LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY
In the 18th century,
during the era
of Russian
Enlightenment, the
development of Russian
literature was boosted by
the works of Mikhail
Lomonosov and Denis
Fonvizin. By the early
19th century a modern
native tradition had
emerged, producing some
of the greatest writers in
Russian history like
10. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
There are 7 public
holidays in Russia :
Orthodox Christmas (7
January)
Defender of the Fatherland
Day (23 February)
International Women's
Day (8 March)
Spring and Labor Day (1
May)
Victory Day (9 May)
Russia Day (12 June)
Unity Day (4 November)
11. TOURISM
Tourism in Russia has seen
rapid growth since the late
Soviet times, first domestic
tourism and then
international tourism,
fueled by the rich cultural
heritage and great natural
variety of the country.
Major tourist routes in
Russia include a journey
around the Golden
Ring of ancient cities,
cruises on the big rivers like
the Volga, and long
journeys on the
famous Trans-
Siberian Railway.
13. GOVERNANCE
According to the Constitution of Russia, the
country is a federation and semi-presidential republic,
wherein the President is the Head of State and
the Prime Minister is the Head of Government.
The federal government composed of three branches:
Legislative
Executive
Judiciary
14. FOREIGN RELATIONS
Russia has a multifaceted foreign policy. As of 2009,
it maintains diplomatic relations with 191 countries
and has 144 embassies.
Russia maintains strong and positive relations with
other BRIC countries. In recent years, the country
has sought to strengthen ties especially with the
People's Republic of China by signing the Treaty of
Friendship as well as building the Trans-Siberian oil
pipeline geared toward growing Chinese energy
needs.
15. LEADERS OF THE BRIC NATIONS IN 2008: (L-R) MANMOHAN SINGH OF
INDIA, DMITRY MEDVEDEV OF RUSSIA, HU JINTAO OF CHINA
AND LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA OF BRAZIL.
16. MILITARY
The Russian military is
divided into
the Ground
Forces, Navy,
and Air Force.
In 2006, the military
had 1.037 million
personnel on active
duty. It is mandatory for
all male citizens aged
18–27 to be drafted for a
year of service in Armed
Forces.
19. PRESENT ECONOMY
The economy of Russia is the 8th largest
economy in the world by nominal value and the
6th largest by Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) .
Russian economy is today considered by IMF
(International Monetary Fund) and World Bank
a developing one.
Russia's economy grew 3.4% in 2012.
20. STATISTICS ON RUSSIAN ECONOMY
GDP $ 2.022 Trillion (2012, IMF) (nominal; 8th)
$ 2.015 Trillion (2013 WB) (nominal; 8th)
$ 2.053 Trillion (2013 CIA and RIA) (nominal; 8th)
$ 2,513 Trillion (2012, IMF) (PPP; 6th)
$ 3.380 Trillion (2013 WB) (PPP; 5th)
GDP
growth
3.4% (2012) (1.8% Jan-Apr. 2013)
GDP per
capita
$ 14,247 2012 (nominal; 47th)
$ 17,709 (2012 IMF) PPP 55th
GDP by
sector
Agriculture: 4.4% industry: 37.6% Services: 58% (2012
est.)
Populatio
n
below pov
erty line
13% (2012)
21. STATISTICS ON RUSSIAN ECONOMY
Exports $542.5 billion (2012 est.)
Export
Goods
Petroleum And Petroleum Products, Natural Gas, Metals,
Wood And Wood Products, Chemicals, And A Wide Variety
Of Civilian And Military Manufactures
Imports $358.1 billion (2012 est.)
Import
Goods
Machinery, Vehicles, Pharmaceutical Products, Plastic,
Semi-finished Metal Products, Meat, Fruits And Nuts,
Optical And Medical Instruments, Iron, Steel
Gross Exter
nal Debt
$455.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Public debt 11% of GDP (2012 est.)
•Revenues $469 billion (2012 est.)
•Expenses $414 billion (2012 est.)
22. The Present Economy Of Russia Depends On:
Macro Economy
Natural Resources
Sectors
Investment
24. GDP: $ 3.380 Trillion (2013 )
GDP Growth: 1.8% (Jan-Apr. 2013)
Monetary Policy: Russian economic institutes have
started the "flexible" ruble policy. As a result of the activity
of Russian Central Bank - the lowest inflation level was
achieved in 2011-2012 - 6.6%.
Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy in Russia has been very
disciplined since the 1998 debt crisis. Funding for the four
"national projects", undertakings in Agriculture,
Education, Housing and Healthcare,
increased by 85 billion Rubles (RU) over the 2006 figure to
230 billion Rubles (RU).
Public Debt: Before 2008 government domestic debt
issuance was a relatively small figure at 170 – 250 billion
Rubles (RU) annually. The government expects the budget
to be in the red (to a surplus of 600 billion RU)
from 2012 till at least 2014.
26. NATURAL RESOURCES
Natural resources, especially Oil and Gas,
dominate Russian exports.
The Petroleum Industry in Russia is one
of the largest in the world.
Russia has the largest reserves, and is the largest
exporter, of Natural Gas.
It has the 2nd largest Coal reserves.
It has the 8th largest Oil reserves, and is the
largest exporter of oil in the world.
Russia is also a leading producer and exporter of
Minerals and Gold.
27.
28.
29. INVESTMENT
In 1999, investment increased by 4.5%, the first such
growth since 1990. Investment growth has continued
at high rates from a very low base, with an almost
30% increase in total foreign investments in 2001.
Foreign investment in Russia is very low.
A significant drawback for investment is the banking
sector. Russia's banks contribute only about 3% of
overall investment in Russia.
Money on deposit with Russian banks represents only
7% of GDP.
Sberbank receives preferential treatment from the
state and holds 73% of all bank deposits.
30. Strategic Sectors
In the Russian law, there are sectors of the
economy which are considered to be crucial
for national security and foreign companies are
restricted from owning them. Investments in the so-
called Strategic Sectors are defined in a law adopted by
the Federal Assembly of Russia.
FDI activity into Russia by emerging economies
remained low between 2007 and 2011. India and
China each accounted for less than 2% of FDI
projects in Russia. Brazil established just two
projects in the country.
31. Mergers and Acquisitions
From 1993 to 2010, Russian companies have been
involved as either an acquirer or acquired company in
13,834 mergers and
acquisitions with a total known value of 613
bil. USD.
The number of deals that happened in 2010 have
been 3,662, which is a new record; compared to 2009
this was an increase of 12%.
The value of deals in 2010 was
US$100 billion, which was the second highest
number ever; compared to 2009 this was an
increase of 143%.
Editor's Notes
Ethnic = denoting or deriving from or distinctive ways of living built up by a group of people
Indigenous = originating where it is found