Capital:
Moscow
Population:
140,702,094
Languages:
Russian, many minority languages
Religion:
Russian Orthodox 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2%; estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy of over seven decades of Soviet rule.
Life Expectancy:
65.94 years
GDP per-capita:
$14,700
Of Interest:
At 17,075,400 sq. kilometers (6,563,736 sq. miles), Russia is by far the largest country in the world. It covers more than an eighth of the Earth's land area, yet it is only the eigth largest country by population. It extends across the whole of northern Asia and 40% of Europe, spanning 11 time zones. It has the world's largest forest reserves, and its lakes contain approximately one-quarter of the world's unfrozen fresh water.
Location:
Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean