Soviet Census (1989)
Encyclopedia
The 1989 Soviet census, conducted between January 12-19 of that year, was the last one conducted in the former USSR
. It resulted in a total population of 286,730,819 inhabitants. Not only in that year, but during its entire nearly seven-decade existence, the country ranked as the third most populous in the world, above the United States
(with 248,709,873 inhabitants according to the 1 April 1990 census), although it was well behind China
and India
.
's total population lived in the RSFSR, and approximately one sixth (some 18%) of in Ukraine
. Almost two thirds (some 65.7%) was urban, leaving the rural population with some 34.3%. In this way, its gradual increase continued, as shown by the series represented by 47.9%, 56.3% and 62.3% of 1959, 1970 and 1979 respectively.United Nations: Demographic Yearbook, Historical supplement - Population by sex, residence, and intercensal rates of increase for total population, each census: 1948-1997, on the UN
Statistics Division website (unstats.un.org).
The last two national censuses (held in 1979 and 1989) showed that the country had been experiencing an average annual increase of about 2.5 million people, although it was a slight decrease from a figure of around 3 million per year in the previous intercensal period, 1959-1970. This post-war increase had contributed to the USSR
's partial demographic recovery from the significant population losses of some 27 million deaths
that the USSR had suffered during the Great Patriotic War (the Eastern Front
of World War II
), and before it, a few million more during Stalin's Great Purge
of 1936-38. The previous postwar censuses, conducted in 1959, 1970 and 1979, had enumerated 208,826,650, 241,720,134 and 262,436,227 inhabitants respectively.
In 1990 the Soviet Union was more populated than both the United States
and Canada
together, having some 40 million more inhabitants than the USA alone. However, after the dissolution of the country in late 1991, the combined population of the 15 former Soviet republics stagnated at around 290 million inhabitants for the period 1995-2000.
This significant slowdown may in part be due to the remarkable changes socio-economic that followed the disintegration of the USSR
, that have tended to reduce even more the already decreasing birth rate
s (which were already showing some signs of decline since the Soviet era, in particular among the people living in the Europe
an part of the Soviet Union
).
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It resulted in a total population of 286,730,819 inhabitants. Not only in that year, but during its entire nearly seven-decade existence, the country ranked as the third most populous in the world, above the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(with 248,709,873 inhabitants according to the 1 April 1990 census), although it was well behind China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Some details
In 1989 about half of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's total population lived in the RSFSR, and approximately one sixth (some 18%) of in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. Almost two thirds (some 65.7%) was urban, leaving the rural population with some 34.3%. In this way, its gradual increase continued, as shown by the series represented by 47.9%, 56.3% and 62.3% of 1959, 1970 and 1979 respectively.United Nations: Demographic Yearbook, Historical supplement - Population by sex, residence, and intercensal rates of increase for total population, each census: 1948-1997, on the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Statistics Division website (unstats.un.org).
The last two national censuses (held in 1979 and 1989) showed that the country had been experiencing an average annual increase of about 2.5 million people, although it was a slight decrease from a figure of around 3 million per year in the previous intercensal period, 1959-1970. This post-war increase had contributed to the USSR
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's partial demographic recovery from the significant population losses of some 27 million deaths
World War II casualties
World War II was the deadliest military conflict in history. Over 60 million people were killed, which was over 2.5% of the world population. The tables below give a detailed country-by-country count of human losses.-Total dead:...
that the USSR had suffered during the Great Patriotic War (the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), and before it, a few million more during Stalin's Great Purge
Great Purge
The Great Purge was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union orchestrated by Joseph Stalin from 1936 to 1938...
of 1936-38. The previous postwar censuses, conducted in 1959, 1970 and 1979, had enumerated 208,826,650, 241,720,134 and 262,436,227 inhabitants respectively.
In 1990 the Soviet Union was more populated than both the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
together, having some 40 million more inhabitants than the USA alone. However, after the dissolution of the country in late 1991, the combined population of the 15 former Soviet republics stagnated at around 290 million inhabitants for the period 1995-2000.
This significant slowdown may in part be due to the remarkable changes socio-economic that followed the disintegration of the USSR
History of the Soviet Union (1985-1991)
The history of the Soviet Union from 1982 through 1991, spans the period from Leonid Brezhnev's death and funeral until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Due to the years of Soviet military buildup at the expense of domestic development, economic growth stagnated...
, that have tended to reduce even more the already decreasing birth rate
Birth rate
Crude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
s (which were already showing some signs of decline since the Soviet era, in particular among the people living in the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an part of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
).
Population change in the USSR between the 1979 and 1989 censuses
| N° | Soviet republic | January 17, 1979 (rounded) census | % | January 12-19, 1989 census | % | Annual average growth (%) | Annual absolute growth | July 1, 1990 projection | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armenia Armenia Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia... |
3,031,000 | 1.15 | 3,287,677 | 1.15 | 0.80 | 27,150 | 3,325,000 | 1.15 |
| 2 | Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to... |
6,028,000 | 2.30 | 7,037,867 | 2.45 | 1.57 | 112,500 | 7,200,000 | 2.50 |
| 3 | Belarus Belarus Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,... |
9,560,000 | 3.64 | 10,199,709 | 3.56 | 0.68 | 67,000 | 10,300,000 | 3.55 |
| 4 | Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... |
1,466,000 | 0.56 | 1,572,916 | 0.55 | 0.72 | 11,240 | 1,589,000 | 0.55 |
| 5 | Georgia Georgia (country) Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of... |
5,015,000 | 1.91 | 5,443,359 | 1.90 | 0.87 | 45,400 | 5,510,000 | 1.90 |
| 6 | Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe... |
14,684,000 | 5.60 | 16,536,511 | 5.77 | 1.20 | 201,500 | 16,830,000 | 5.80 |
| 7 | Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east... |
3,529,000 | 1.34 | 4,290,442 | 1.50 | 1.99 | 87,300 | 4,420,000 | 1.50 |
| 8 | Latvia Latvia Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden... |
2,521,000 | 0.96 | 2,680,029 | 0.93 | 0.69 | 16,620 | 2,705,000 | 0.95 |
| 9 | Lithuania Lithuania Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark... |
3,398,000 | 1.29 | 3,689,779 | 1.29 | 0.85 | 30,950 | 3,735,000 | 1.30 |
| 10 | Moldavia Moldavia Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river... |
3,947,000 | 1.50 | 4,337,592 | 1.51 | 0.94 | 41,800 | 4,400,000 | 1.50 |
| 11 | Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
137,551,000 | 52.41 | 147,400,537 | 51.41 | 0.71 | 1,035,000 | 148,900,000 | 51.25 |
| 12 | Tajikistan Tajikistan Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east.... |
3,801,000 | 1.45 | 5,108,576 | 1.78 | 2.99 | 160,100 | 5,330,000 | 1.85 |
| 13 | Turkmenistan Turkmenistan Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states... |
2,759,000 | 1.05 | 3,533,925 | 1.23 | 2.49 | 92,000 | 3,665,000 | 1.25 |
| 14 | Ukraine Ukraine Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia... |
49,755,000 | 18.96 | 51,706,742 | 18.03 | 0.42 | 200,500 | 52,000,000 | 17.90 |
| 15 | Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south.... |
15,391,000 | 5.86 | 19,905,158 | 6.94 | 2.61 | 539,000 | 20,650,000 | 7.10 |
| - | Soviet Union Soviet Union The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991.... |
262,436,000 | 100.00 | 286,730,819 | 100.00 | 0.90 | 2,585,000 | 290,500,000 | 100.00 |
See also
- Demographics of the Soviet UnionDemographics of the Soviet UnionAccording to data from the 1989 Soviet census, the population of the Soviet Union was 70% East Slavs, 12% Turkic peoples, and all other ethnic groups below 10%. Alongside the atheist majority of 60% there were sizable minorities of Russian Orthodox followers and Muslims According to data from the...
- Republics of the Soviet UnionRepublics of the Soviet UnionThe Republics of the Soviet Union or the Union Republics of the Soviet Union were ethnically-based administrative units that were subordinated directly to the Government of the Soviet Union...
- Soviet Census (1937)Soviet Census (1937)The Soviet Census held on January 6, 1937 was the most controversial of the censuses taken within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The census results were destroyed and its organizers were sent to the Gulag as saboteurs because the census showed much lower population figures than...
- Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Further reading
- Barbara A. Anderson and Brian D. Silver, "Growth and diversity of the population of the Soviet Union", The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science , Vol. 510, No. 1, 155-177, 1990.
- Ralph S. Clem, Ed., Research Guide to Russian and Soviet Censuses, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1986.
- John C. Dewdney, "Population change in the Soviet Union, 1979-1989," Geography, Vol. 75, Pt. 3, No. 328, July 1990, 273-277.
External links
- Subjects of Russia, on the www.statoids.com website (it includes the demographic evolution of the Soviet Union's population).