Moscow Region is a land with a rich history. It was she who became the center of the union of Russian territories. It was from here that Dmitry Donskoy with his army went to the Battle of Kulikovo.
What features are characterized by the modern population of the Moscow region? How do people live in this region of Russia? And what places here can attract the special attention of tourists? All this will be discussed in our article.
Russia, Moscow region: the face of the region
The Moscow Region (unofficial name - Moscow Region ) is the 55th largest and second largest population subject of the Russian Federation. The region occupies an extremely advantageous geographical position, surrounded by a dense ring of its small cities and towns the largest metropolis in Europe - Moscow. It is curious that the region has no officially approved administrative center. Although in fact this role is played by the Russian capital.
The population of the Moscow region today has already exceeded the mark of 7 million people. Moreover, it has been constantly and steadily growing since 2007. The region ranks second in the country in terms of industrial development, and third in terms of regional gross domestic product. The Moscow Region is a very attractive region for both investment and skilled workers.
According to the results of the last two years, the Moscow region tops the rating of the most comfortable regions of Russia for life. This rating is compiled annually by the magazine "Profile" taking into account the standard of living of the population, the pace of economic development and general economic dynamics.
The main demographic indicators of the region
The Moscow Region is one of the few regions of Russia that boasts a steady increase in the number of its inhabitants. So, the population of the Moscow region as of 2016 is 7.3 million people.
Mortality in the region is still higher than the birth rate, but in recent years there has been a tendency to decrease it. Nevertheless, the population of the Moscow region is growing, mainly due to active external migration. The total population growth in the region from 2005 to 2012 amounted to about 10%.
The average (expected) life expectancy in the region is also growing. If in 2000 it was only 65 years old, then in 2016 it was already 71 years old.
Most of the region’s population lives in cities and towns. The level of urbanization in the region has reached 80%. The village near Moscow is dying out, and this is perhaps the most acute demographic problem in the region. Today in the Moscow region there are 327 villages without a single resident.
Age and gender, ethnic structure and employment
According to the latest census, there are more women in the Moscow Region than men. The approximate sex ratio is: 52 to 48%. Moreover, in cities this advantage is even greater.
The population of the Moscow region mainly consists of Russians (about 93%). There are also numerous Ukrainians, Armenians, Tatars, Belarusians and Uzbeks. Recently, labor migrants from Moldova, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have come to this region of Russia most willingly.
The total amount of labor resources in the region is estimated by experts at 4.1 million people. The unemployment rate in the region is not high by Russian standards: 2.7%.
Administrative division of the region
The territory of the Moscow region is divided into 29 administrative regions. The largest (by population) is the Odintsovo district, and the smallest is Lotoshinsky. In addition, five ZATOs (administrative-territorial formations of a closed type) are distinguished in the region: Voskhod, Vlasikha, Krasnoznamensk, Zvezdniy Gorodok and Molodezhny.
Within the Moscow region today, there are 76 cities. The largest of them are Balashikha, Podolsk, Khimki, Korolev and Mytishchi. Cities across the territory of the region are dispersed very unevenly. With distance from Moscow, their number decreases markedly.
It is interesting that some cities of the Moscow Region are older than the capital itself. So, for example, Volokolamsk was founded in the first half of the XII century.
The most interesting cities of the Moscow region
The Moscow Region is an amazing region with beautiful nature, the remains of ancient fortresses and fortifications, numerous monuments of architecture and ancient estates. Listed below are the five most interesting cities in the area that tourists should visit first. It:
- Kolomna with the remains of an ancient stone Kremlin.
- Sergiev Posad with a stunning monument of antiquity - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
- Zaraysk is a real Russian province with numerous wooden houses.
- Zvenigorod with its white-stone monastery of the XIV century.
- Podolsk, in which is located one of the main architectural wonders - the Znamenskaya Church.
Pushkin district of the Moscow region: general description
This area is located north of Moscow, in the Klyazma river basin . It was founded in 1929. The population of the district is about 180 thousand people. The administrative center is the ancient city of Pushkino.
The area is famous for its educational institutions and their large number. There are five universities, four colleges and 46 secondary schools.
Pushkin district of the Moscow region is considered one of the cleanest in the region in terms of ecology. Indeed, there is not a single large industrial enterprise that could pollute air or water. In addition, almost 50% of the Pushkin district is covered by forests.