About Russia

Russia: Overview

Russia —officially called the Russian Federation— is the largest country in the world. By geographical area, Russia is about 5.2 times bigger than India, 1.8 times than the United States, and 1.7 times than the Canada and United Kingdom.

Thanks to its vast size, Russia has 11 time zones and covers one-eighth of the Earth’s landmass. Moscow is the largest city in Russia and also the capital of the country. Russian is the official as well as the national language of the democratic nation spoken by more than 80% of the population.

People in Russia are highly educated, and the country enjoys a literacy rate of 99.7% making it one of the highest educated countries in the world. Also, Russia ranks well on the scale of the Human Development Index with an HDI score of 0.816 which is very high.

Russia is home to 14.6 crore people and is thriving at a fast pace. Russia is also home to the world’s most extensive resources of mineral and energy resources and is the world leader in the production of oil and natural gases. No wonder that Russia is also called Energy Superpower. Presently, Russia is the 11th largest economy in the world and has achieved astonishing milestones in the field of science, technology, and space.

Facts About Russia

Nature & Climate of Russia

By geographic area, Russia is the biggest country on the planet and is home to diverse species, natural resources, and different climate zones. Breathtaking mountains, thousands of rivers, distinct species, and the world’s most abundant water resources are some of the hallmarks of Russia’s exceptional natural beauty and heritage.

Lake Baikal, one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Russia, is the purest and deepest freshwater lake in the world. The lake contains more than 20% of the world’s freshwater. Russia is home to about 100,000 rivers. Volga River in Russia is the longest river in Europe, flowing 3,530 kilometers long.

Russia’s forest reserves are famously called “the lungs of Europe” and make the world’s largest forest reserves. Being a naturally enriched country, Russia’s wildlife has a healthy community of 780 types of birds and 266 types of mammals.

While Russia is known worldwide for its cold weather, the nation has lots to offer beyond cold. People in Russian enjoy two major seasons; summer and winter, with a brief period of spring and autumn. Depending on the region and time of the weather, the temperature in Russia can be as high as 45.4°C or as low as −71.2°C.

Healthcare in Russia

Russian constitution gives all the Russians the right to free healthcare. Free healthcare is assured through the state fund called “Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund,” which is regulated by the Russian Ministry of Health.

Russia has a robust healthcare ecosystem in place with 6,21,000+ doctors and 13,00,000+ nurses working in the sector. In urban areas, Russia has 4.38 doctors per 1000 people, while 1.21 doctors per 1000 people in rural areas. In any case, this ratio is much favorable than the recommended doctor: people ratio of 1:1000 by the World Health Organization.

As per the 2017 estimate, there are about 5,300 hospitals in Russia. Per 1,000 people, 9.3 hospital beds are available, which is also favorable than the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 5 hospital beds per 1000 people.

Thanks to the healthcare, Russia has seen a continuous growth in life expectancy over the last few years. Life expectancy in Russia has grown from 65.048 in 2003 to 72.119 in 2017.

Transportation in Russia

Russia is a well-connected country. Home to 1,216 airports, Russia has a well-regulated transportation system supported by buses, boats, taxis, metro, and suburban and express trains. In a typical Russian city, you can catch a bus or taxi every 15 minutes and a train every 30 minutes.

For easy navigation and to find the route to an unfamiliar place, you can use one of the available mobile map applications and select the best route available. While transportation in Russia is very cheap, students can travel at a further discounted cost, which is five times less than the price of regular tickets. To avail the student discount, all you need to do is get your Student Social Card.

Currency of Russia

“Russian ruble,” which is also called “rouble,” is the currency of Russia. Ruble currency code is “RUB,” and “₽” Is the official Ruble sign.

While international debit and credit cards are accepted across Russia, it’s a better practice to get some cash-in-hand in Russian currency, before you board the flight. Since exchange rates at the Airports are pricey, make sure to exchange your home currency for Russian Rubles at your local bank or currency exchange office.

Living Cost in Russia

Living cost in Russia varies depending on the city you choose for your education. While Saint Petersburg and Moscow are the costliest cities in Russia, the average living cost is about US$ 300. Depending on a student’s lifestyle, the living cost can be as low as US$ 140 per month or lower or as high as US$ 800 per month or higher.

Many universities in Russia provides hostel and mess facilities for the students, generally at a rate lower than the market rate. As per standard average, the following is the breakup of living cost in Russia: