Full country name: Russian Federation
Area: 17 million sq km (6,563,706 sq mi)
Population: 147 million (growth rate -0.3%)
Capital city: Moscow (pop 8.3 million)
People: 81% Russian, 4% Tatar, 3% Ukrainian and numerous ethnic minorities
Language: Russian
Religion: Russian Orthodox, Islam, Animist
Government: Federation
President: Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

Free market reform has not been kind to Russia. Production and investment are in diabolical decline due to uncertainty induced by both the pace of change and the suspicions born of endemic and insidious corruption. Some 40 million people languish below the poverty line.
GDP: US$350 billion
GDP per head: US$2420
Annual growth: 4%
Inflation: 15.1%
Major industries: Oil, coal, iron ore, timber, automotive, agricultural and construction equipment
Major trading partners: EU (esp. Germany), Belarus, Ukraine, USA, China
Member of EU: no

© Copyright 2003 Lonely Planet Publications. All rights reserved. Used with permission. www.lonelyplanet.com