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The census, a systematic enumeration of a nation's inhabitants, has held profound significance in the history of Russia. Throughout the centuries, these population counts have not only provided essential demographic information but have also been intricately intertwined with the nation's social, economic, and political fabric. In Russia, the census has evolved from its early roots during the Mongol-Tatar invasion, when it primarily served economic taxation purposes, to become a crucial instrument in the transformation of society.
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History of census records in Russia
The beginning of population registration
In Russia, the practice of registering the population traces its origins back to the time of the Mongol-Tatar invasion. Initially, population registration served primarily economic purposes, involving the assessment of taxes based on the number of households. The earliest known Tatar census dates back to the year 1245, followed by three more censuses conducted approximately every 14 years. Over time, the nature of these censuses evolved, reflecting changes in taxation units, from households to male family members and occupation. However, it's essential to note that these censuses were not comprehensive, as they didn't include those exempt from taxation.
During the 14th to 16th centuries in Russia, agricultural descriptions were conducted, and the results were recorded in documents known as scribe books. These scribe books gained significance as they became essential for taxation purposes, albeit slowly transitioning into land surveys.
In the 17th century, the unit of taxation shifted to the household, and the population counts were referred to as local censuses. These descriptions were conducted frequently, but their geographic scope was limited to small territories and driven by local objectives.
A notable turning point was the 1646 census, which marked a significant departure from earlier scribe descriptions as it primarily focused on population counts. Enumerators recorded all taxable males, including children, with indications of their age. The results of this census served a dual purpose, acting as a legal basis for further enserfment of peasants and forming the foundation for tax collection. The subsequent census occurred in 1676-1678.
Estate-level censuses of this period were limited in terms of recorded characteristics, lacked a defined form, and had no uniform concepts. These limitations extended not only to population accounting but also to a person's property and economic status. The censuses varied in duration, spanning from one to ten years, were occasionally conducted by individuals with limited literacy, and often involved exactions, leading to widespread concealment, distortions, and evasion of registration.
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On November 26, 1718, Peter the Great issued a decree mandating the collection of "census records from all individuals within a year to determine the accurate number of males in each village." These lists, known as "census records" or "skazki," were eventually compiled three years later and subjected to review, termed a "revision," over the following three years. This marked the beginning of the use of the term "revisions" for population records in Russia. Before the abolition of serfdom, ten revisions were conducted between 1718 and 1856, which provided imprecise information about the population as they counted only those individuals attached from taxable estates for tax collection purposes.
After the abolition of serfdom in 1861, population censuses began to be conducted in some cities and entire guberniyas of the Russian Empire. These evolved into scientifically organized censuses, which were regularly carried out in major cities, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. Notably, the first Moscow population census in 1871 revealed an interesting gender imbalance. Moscow was shown to be a city of grooms, with 354,000 men compared to 248,000 women. The 1882 census in Moscow garnered attention because the renowned writer Count Leo Tolstoy participated in it, advocating for using the census to address poverty in the city.
In the 1890s, the esteemed Russian writer Anton Chekhov independently attempted to census the population of Sakhalin, personally visiting homes and completing thousands of census cards. The first and only General Census of the population of the Russian Empire was conducted on February 9, 1897. This initiative was led by the distinguished Russian scientist Peter Semenov-Tyan-Shansky and served as the sole source of accurate data regarding the population size and composition of Russia at the end of the 19th century.[1][2]
As the year 1905 approached, the results of the 1897 census were thoroughly analyzed and published in two volumes. With the advent of Soviet rule, a new era of statistical development was initiated. Following the 1917 revolution, Vladimir Lenin famously proclaimed "Socialism is an accounting." In the summer of 1918, practical steps were taken to establish Soviet statistics. This led to the creation of the Central Statistical Administration (CSU) as the central statistical body of the Soviet Republic.
Soviet period
The first Soviet population censuses took place in the summer of 1918, beginning in Petrograd and Moscow. On March 16, 1919, a few days after Kiev came under the control of the Red Army, the city's statistical bureau conducted a population census. In August 1920, the first All-Russian census was conducted, albeit facing limitations due to the civil war and a lack of qualified personnel. The next census occurred on March 15, 1923, covering the entire territory of the USSR, except Georgia, which had conducted a similar survey at the end of 1922.
On December 17, 1926, the first All-Union census took place, marking the first comprehensive census after the October Revolution. It delved into various aspects, including family, literacy, and ethnic composition. Subsequent censuses continued to gather essential data, leading to the 1937 census, which was marked by its startling results. It revealed a total population of 156 million, with a meager net gain of only 7.2 million individuals. Yet, it was impossible to determine the number of deaths due to prisons, labor camps, and famine.
In response to the census's revelations and its potential implications for the 1932-1934 famine, Joseph Stalin declared it "subversive" and classified its results. This decision was primarily motivated by two factors: the census exposed the devastating consequences of the famine, causing the loss of millions of lives, and the data was immediately seized and destroyed.
On January 17, 1939, a new unplanned census was conducted to provide "correct" results. While the brief results were published in 1939-1940, the outbreak of World War II hampered the complete processing of the collected materials. The population figures from the revised census in 1939 showed an increase of 14 million within two years, reaching a total of 170 million. However, the actual growth amounted to just 9% of the total population increase, instead of the expected and natural 29%.
The 1959 census data for the USSR indicated a population of 208,867,000, with males accounting for 45% and females 55% of the total. The census also revealed that for every 1,000 males, there were 1,242 females. Subsequently, the 1970 census on January 15 recorded a population of 262.4 million, with 56% residing in urban areas. Among this population, 59 million were males, and 71 million were females, resulting in an average of 1,196 females for every 1,000 males.
Significant changes were observed in the organization and data processing during the 1979 population census, which took place on January 17. Following the 1979 All-Union population census, the population count was reported at 262.5 million, with 62% living in urban areas. Furthermore, the data indicated that there were 1,774 females for every 1,000 males, making up 54% of the total population.
The last census conducted in the USSR occurred on January 12, 1989. According to the 1989 census data, the population of the Soviet Union was 286.7 million people, including 188.8 million residents in urban areas, constituting 66% of the population.[3]
Russian Population Censuses
The All-Russian Population Census of 2002 was a significant national project for the new state of the third millennium. This program was developed over eight years according to international standards set by the UN for the World Census Round of 2000. The census revealed that the permanent population of the Russian Federation amounted to 145.2 million people.
Russia holds the seventh position globally in terms of population size. The most populous countries in the world include China, India, the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, and Pakistan. Notably, the total population of Russia decreased by 1.8 million people compared to the figures from 1989.
Of the population within the Russian Federation, 142.5 million people, or 98%, are Russian citizens. Additionally, 106.4 million residents, accounting for 73%, live in urban areas, while 38.8 million individuals, constituting 27%, reside in rural regions. Russia is home to representatives of over 160 different nationalities.
The 2010 census was conducted by the Russian government as a part of its commitment to collecting accurate and up-to-date demographic data. Censuses are typically conducted once a decade to assess the changing characteristics of a country's population and to aid in policymaking, resource allocation, and development planning. In Russia, this census aimed to provide crucial information for government decision-makers, social scientists, and researchers to understand the country's population dynamics. According to the census, the total population of Russia in 2010 was approximately 143 million people. This figure showed a slight decline compared to the previous census in 2002, primarily attributed to changing birth and mortality rates.The 2010 census highlighted the multi-ethnic nature of Russia. It revealed that there were over 190 different ethnic groups living in the country. Ethnic Russians constituted the largest portion of the population, followed by ethnic Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkirs, and Chuvash, among others.
Originally slated for the autumn of 2020, the latest Russian census was postponed by one year due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, taking place from mid-October to mid-November 2021. Preliminary findings were disclosed in September 2022, with the full and definitive data becoming available in December. It's worth noting that the census encompassed Crimea, a region Ukraine disputes and Russia has held since 2014.
The census reported the total population of the country as 144.7 million. If the Ukrainian region of Crimea is considered, this figure rises to 147.2 million, marking an increase from the 142.8 million recorded in the 2010 census.
See also
Explore more on census records in Russia
- All Russian census data at Federal State Statistic Sevice
- Ethnicity Map of Russia at MyHeritage
- Census&Voter lists at MyHeritage
References:
- ↑ https://www.prlib.ru/en/history/619019
- ↑ https://rgo.ru/activity/redaction/articles/pervaya-i-poslednyaya-kak-prokhodila-vseobshchaya-perepis-naseleniya-rossiyskoy-imperii/
- ↑ https://74.rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/%D0%98%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F%20%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%B9%20%D0%B2%20%D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8%20(new).pdf