Demographic Development of Russian Cities According to Population Censuses of 1897–2020

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to analyze the population dynamics and gender structure of Russian cities from 1897 to 2020. The presented time period made it possible to study both short-term and long-term trends in the development of cities of various categories, based on data from official population censuses. A key aspect of the study was to assess the dynamics of population growth and changes in the gender balance in the largest cities of the country. The main attention was paid to the dynamics of population changes in cities of various categories according to the classification of the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation. The study made it possible to draw a conclusion about a significant transformation of the settlement system of the Russian Federation during the analyzed period. The most noticeable trend is towards an increase in the number of largest cities, which indicates the processes of urbanization and concentration of the population in the large administrative and economic centers of the country. At the same time, there is a recovery in the number of small towns, especially with a population of up to 10 thousand people, which may be due to the development of infrastructure and improvement of living conditions in small settlements. This study examines quantitative and percentage changes in the population in the context of cities of various categories, analyzes the gender composition of the population in the largest cities of Russia for various periods, and assesses the rate of population growth or decline over different time periods. The study seeks to contribute to the understanding of urbanization processes and demographic changes in Russia, and can serve as a basis for developing strategies for sustainable urban development and planning socio-economic policies at local and regional levels.