Imperial Academy of Sciences and organization of statistical research in Russia

Abstract

This article is devoted to the history of the institutional formation of statistical research in the Imperial Academy of Sciences. It is noted that the first experiments in statistical descriptions of the territory of Russia date back to the second quarter of the 18th century. They were in line with the German tradition of descriptive government studies and involved the systematization of geographical, ethnographic, political, and economic information important for the development of the country. The spread of government studies in Russia was facilitated by German scientists invited to the country. Based on a wide range of published sources and archival materials, the author analyzes the process of adding the list of academic disciplines with statistics and government science and studies the contribution of the first academic statisticians to the development of this branch of knowledge. The article analyzes various forms of supporting statistical research by the Academy of Sciences.