According to the data provided by the Federal State Statistics Service, the population of Russia as of July 1, 2012 was 143.1 million people. In terms of the population, the Russian Federation occupies the 8th place in the world. Two percent of the world's population live in Russia.

The majority of the population is concentrated in the European part of the country. Seventy four percent of the population lives in urban areas, 26.3% - in rural areas.

Russia is a multiethnic state. Over 160 nationalities live on its territory, the largest (80.9% of the population) being Russians. Russian is the official State language.

Orthodox Christianity is the predominant religion. Islamic, Catholic, Buddhist and other confessions are less widespread.