Not so long ago, Russia annexed new (old) territories - the city of Sevastopol and Crimea. The peninsula has a long and confusing demographic history. To figure out how many inhabitants are in Crimea, there are few bare facts. Details are needed, sometimes mournful and tragic. Let's get it right. Crimea is a multinational region. The list of nationalities includes more than one hundred items. Naturally, the number of inhabitants in Crimea is noticeably influenced not by all, but only by numerous nations.
Last Census Results
The last time accurate counting was carried out thirteen years ago. Then the peninsula was inhabited by 2,024,056 citizens of various nationalities. Most of them are Russians. It should be noted that, according to official figures, the population is constantly decreasing. Those indicators that characterize the demography of the period 1989-2001 are called a real disaster. During this time, the number of residents of the Crimea decreased by almost 400 thousand people! This figure is relative, since it characterizes a decrease against the background of the resettlement of the Crimean Tatar people that occurred during the indicated period. Actual decline is much higher.
Historical facts: how the peninsula was populated
Studying the population of Crimea, one can not turn to the events that determined the demographic situation. The Russians began to live here a very long time, back in the tenth century. It is known that the Principality of Tmutarakan was created on the territory of the peninsula . Then the Slavs did not have a big impact on the number of inhabitants in Crimea. Most were Crimean Tatars, Greeks and others. In 1771, a more thorough development of the territory by the Russians began, having introduced their troops here. Over two centuries, the ratio of the national composition of the population has changed, as many immigrants from Russia developed new lands, and subjects of the Ottoman Empire moved to Turkey. By the beginning of the last century, Russians became the predominant nation on the peninsula (41.2%), while the proportion of Crimean Tatars fell to 28.7% (from 87.8).
Deportation
The events of World War II influenced the actual composition of the population of the peninsula. As a result of political decisions, some peoples were evicted to other territories. If we consider the facts according to which more than 309 thousand people were taken out, then we can marvel at how many residents in Crimea were traitors. It's not like that at all. These people were relocated to Central Asia in order to reduce the threat of tension in the territories located near the border. The country fought, the risks were too serious. In total, 380 thousand people remained on the peninsula. A new filling of the peninsula with settlers of Slavic nationalities began. By 1959 there were already more than a million people. In subsequent years, the proportions of Russians and Ukrainians in total numbers gradually changed. The share of the latter increased slightly. But most of the population of any nationality considered Russian their native language.
Rehabilitation and new relocation
The number of residents in Crimea began to increase again, starting in the sixties. Gradually, the deported population began to return to the peninsula. Significant numbers are becoming towards the end of the last century. So, in 1999, more than three hundred thousand people moved to Crimea. Despite such an impressive figure, the number of residents in Crimea was declining. This is most likely due to difficulties affecting the entire population of a crumbling country. A positive indicator of natural growth was recorded only in 2012. Prior to this, the population was steadily decreasing, since mortality exceeded the birth rate.
Seasonal indicators
There is another answer to the question of how many inhabitants are in Crimea. The peninsula is a very popular resort. Therefore, its population is steadily increasing by approximately six million people in the summer. If this figure is not taken into account by statistics, then it affects the economy. The fact is that all this "temporary" population needs to be fed, to satisfy its household needs, to entertain, and so on. The most difficult is the issue of amenities. The fact is that there is not enough water on the peninsula; it is supplied through channels from the mainland. Therefore, the arrival of such a huge number of vacationers pleases Crimeans, but overloads utilities, which constantly threatens an environmental explosion. Unfortunately, a large-scale reconstruction of this important sphere of life did not take place while the peninsula remained part of Ukraine. Until now, many villages are not provided with water supply. For their needs, residents punch wells. Their filling is also problematic, since in the dry period the water drops below fifty meters.
Recent story
One would think that the transfer of territory from one state to another will affect the population. However, this opinion is erroneous. According to official figures, only a few thousand military personnel, workers of specialized services left the peninsula. The vast majority of people are happy to accept new citizenship.