The map above shows how under populated Russia’s far East is compared to Europe.
Here are some comparisons:
The blue dot is London with a population of 8,945,309 in just 1,572 km2 (607 sq mi) for a density of 5,690/km2 (14,700/sq mi).
Russia’s Far East covers and area of 6,952,555 km2 (2,684,396 sq mi), more than twice the size of India or 2/3rd the size of the US, but only has a population of 7,975,762 for a population density of 1.15 people per km2 (3.0 per sq mi.)
It is one of the least populated major regions in the world, for several reasons:
Harsh Climate and Geography
- Much of the Far East is subarctic or has a harsh continental climate with long, extremely cold winters, permafrost, and short growing seasons.
- Mountain ranges, taiga, and tundra dominate the landscape, making large-scale agriculture very difficult.
- Natural hazards like earthquakes, volcanoes, and seasonal flooding add to the challenges.
Distance and Isolation
- The region is thousands of kilometres from Russia’s main population centres in the west (Moscow, St. Petersburg, etc.).
- Transport is difficult: there are few major highways, limited rail lines (the Trans-Siberian being the main one), and air/sea travel is expensive.
- This isolation makes logistics and supply chains costly.
Economic Factors
- The region’s economy is based mostly on resource extraction (oil, gas, mining, timber, fishing). These industries require fewer people than farming or manufacturing.
- Lack of economic diversity discourages settlement.
- Infrastructure is underdeveloped, and living costs (especially food and heating) are high compared to wages.
Historical Settlement Patterns
- Before Russian expansion in the 17th-19th centuries, the indigenous populations (Evenks, Chukchi, etc.) were sparse and nomadic.
- Russian colonization focused more on Siberia’s river valleys and later on resource hubs, not widespread settlement.
- The Soviet Union tried to populate the Far East by sending workers, soldiers, and prisoners there, but many left after the USSR collapsed when subsidies and guaranteed jobs disappeared.
Demographic Decline
- Since the 1990s, many Russians have moved out of the Far East to European Russia where conditions and opportunities are better.
- Today, the population continues to shrink despite government incentives like subsidies and relocation benefits.
Competition and Migration Pressures
- The region borders rapidly growing areas of China, Korea, and Japan, but Russia has been cautious about encouraging large-scale migration from neighbouring countries due to fears of losing influence in the region.
In short: the Russian Far East is underpopulated because it’s cold, remote, costly to live in, historically sparsely settled, and economically oriented toward resource extraction rather than dense population centers.
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