The favorable geographical position predetermined that the city of Astrakhan, whose population is growing steadily today, will become a major transport hub for the entire Lower Volga region. Sea and river ports, as well as rail and air connections made the ancient city a frequented place not only for connoisseurs of historical and cultural heritage. The village has long attracted merchants, artisans and workers, many of whom subsequently remained in Astrakhan permanently, forming the modern look of the city.
A brief history of the formation of the city
As early as the thirteenth century, a small village appeared on the territory of such a future city as Astrakhan. The population at that time was not diverse: the majority was the ruling elite of the Golden Horde, which adopted a new religion - Islam. But the city very quickly became a major hub of trade, metalworking, jewelry craftsmanship and pottery production were actively developing. After that, the settlement fell into decay several times, and a new period in the history of the formation of the city began since Tatar Astrakhan became Russian.
Since the sixteenth century, Astrakhan has become not only the military outpost of Russia in the southeast, but also the main trading "gate" to Asia. The settlement grew and developed, however, from time to time the population of Astrakhan suffered from devastating epidemics: for example, the plague of 1692 claimed the lives of two-thirds of the inhabitants of the city.
Population dynamics in Astrakhan
The first mention of the population of Astrakhan dates back to 1897. Then in the city lived 112 thousand people. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the population increased to 120 thousand permanent residents. During the Civil War, fierce fighting broke out in the city, but the population continued to increase, mainly due to visitors. The Great Patriotic War did not stop the growth in the number of inhabitants. At that time, many hospitals were concentrated in the city, and the settlement itself became an important transit point for fuel from the Caucasus to the central part of the Russian SSR.
Even the dashing 90s did not cause a stable demographic crisis, which was characteristic in those years for Russia as a whole. The population of the city fell in some years, however, Astrakhan, whose population was replenished by visitors, was growing steadily. By 2000, the population of the city reached 486 thousand people.
Today's population and national composition
Today, the population of Astrakhan is almost 532 thousand people, which is almost half the total number of residents of the region. In the city itself, the majority of the population (about 80%) is concentrated on the left bank of the Volga.
As for the ethnic composition, Astrakhan, whose population is represented by more than 173 nationalities, unites representatives of various nationalities. So, the majority are Russians (almost 78% of the population), followed by Tatars (7%), followed by Kazakhs, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Ukrainians. Very few Nogai Tatars, Avars and Lezghins, the indigenous peoples of the Caucasus, Gypsies and other nationalities, live in Astrakhan.
Other demographic indicators
Since 2007, a positive population growth has been stably recorded in Astrakhan. True, negative indicators have been held since 1996. Recently, birth rates have significantly (in comparison with national statistics) exceeded mortality.
The life expectancy of the population of Astrakhan at birth (i.e., excluding lifestyle, inheritance, the likelihood of accidents, and so on) is currently seventy-one years and three months. The indicator slightly exceeds similar figures based on the Russian Federation as a whole (seventy years and five months).