Moscow has Gained as Many People in Last Century as 12 Predominantly Ethnic Russian Regions in Central Part of the Country have Lost, Roshchin Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Sept. 1 – The population gains of the city of Moscow over the last 100 years have almost exactly equaled the population losses of the 12 predominantly ethnic Russian regions around it, according to commentator Aleksey Roshchin drawing on statistics assembled by economist Yakov Mirkin.

            While not all of the gains of the capital have come from these Russian regions and not all of the losses of these Russian regions have gone to Moscow, the fact that the total numbers of so nearly equal is striking and indicates, Roshchin says, that Russia is becoming a country with large cities surrounded by empty provinces (kasparov.ru/material.php?id=64F1F677B6347).

            Indeed, what is perhaps even more striking is just how large a percentage of the population some of the regions have experienced over the last 100 years. Kursk has lost 67 percent of its residents; Oryol, 75 percent; and Pskov, nearly 60 percent, with most of the others suffering losses ranging from a third to a half.