Russia spans the Eurasian continent, with a total land area of 17.098 million square kilometers, making it the largest country in the world. But can you believe it? In this way, can be equivalent to the land area of two Chinas, but the total population of the country is only 1/14 of China.
Russia can be described as “vast and sparsely populated”. Many people are also curious about why there are only so few people in such a large land area. Then let’s talk about it, where have all the Russians gone?
1. The vast and sparsely populated Russia
Russia is the only country in the world that spans two continents and the eastern and western hemispheres. Friends who know Russian history should know that Russia has inherited most of the land and richness left by the Soviet Union. legacy.
According to official data, Russia has 22 republics, 4 autonomous regions, 3 federal municipalities, 9 border regions and 46 states. When we describe China's land area, we often use the term "vast land and abundant resources" to describe it, while Russia truly has a vast territory and abundant resources.
As of the end of 2021, Russia's total population is only 146 million, and it has also achieved a truly vast land and sparsely populated area. In terms of the ratio of men to women, there are more women than men in Russia, probably more than 10 million people.
Therefore, the characteristics of Russia can be summarized as a vast land and sparse population, and a serious imbalance in the ratio of men to women. This also makes people wonder why Russia’s population has not been able to develop? The number of men is still very small?
2. Why is Russia sparsely populated?
If you mention the small population, the first thing that many people think of is the low birth rate and the lack of enthusiasm among the people to have children. As the country with the largest territory in the world, its population is only a little over 100 million, which is indeed quite unexpected. And after understanding the real reason, it is indeed a bit embarrassing.
First, let’s look at Russia’s geographical location. The entire Russia is located on the Tropic of Cancer, and some areas have even reached the pole. Therefore, the overall climate in Russia is very cold, the winter is relatively long, and many areas are not suitable for human habitation.
Then this has led to the failure of Russian agriculture to develop. If you want to keep more people fed, you need to import a large amount of food from abroad every year. This has led to the Russian people's body being in a sub-healthy state for a long time, and the average life span is only about 65 years old.
Therefore, a large part of the reason for the sparse population in Russia is because the average life span is short. Coupled with the cold climate, many Russians have completely lost interest in childbirth. The survival rate of newborns has also become a huge test.
According to Russian official data in 2015, the birth rate was 13.3%, but at the same time the mortality rate also reached 13%. This birth rate and death rate are almost equal, which also means that Russia is still facing a huge existential crisis.
In addition to the above reasons, Russia has always been called a fighting nation. It has participated in World War I and World War II. And Russia, which has been in a state of war for a long time, has also seen a sharp decline in population. Especially in World War II, the death toll in the Soviet Union exceeded 26.6 million.
And among these people, the ones who died the most were young men. So this is also the main reason for the imbalance in the ratio of men to women. Because of the idea of a "fighting nation", the male fertility rate has not increased.
3. Russians have serious drinking habits
The above also explains the reason why Russia has a small population, but there is actually another very important reason that is easily ignored by everyone. is the so-called "No zuo no die", which is also ridiculous.
A key reason for Russia’s small population is its addiction to alcohol. Regardless of whether they are men, women, old or young, they all like to take a few sips. When it comes to the most famous wine in Russia, it is a very high-alcohol spirit- vodka .
Regarding the long-term habit of drinking alcohol among Russians, is mainly due to the cold local climate, and the locals have developed the habit of drinking to keep warm. But we all know that long-term alcohol abuse can cause serious damage to the body, especially the liver and reproductive functions.
This has led to Russia’s ranking at the top of the world’s liver disease rankings. In the 2014 report on alcohol and health released by the World Health Organization, Russia’s per capita alcohol consumption reached 15.1 liters per person, which is higher than the world average. More than twice as much.
Therefore, excessive drinking has also greatly shortened the life span of many Russians and increased the mortality rate. According to relevant data, nearly 500,000 people in Russia die from alcoholism every year. Especially when they are addicted to alcohol, they dare to drink any liquid containing alcohol.
Summary
There are three main reasons for the small population in Russia. One is the climate, the other is the war, and the other is long-term alcoholism. And Putin also raised the retirement age to 65 in order to change the drinking habits of Russians. If you don't stop drinking, you may not be able to enjoy retirement.
Of course, this may not have much effect on some people who are addicted to alcohol. In this regard, what do you think are the reasons for Russia’s small population? Welcome to leave a message for discussion.
