The population of Buryatia

There are 112 nationalities living in Buryatia. The most numerous ethnic groups, after the Russians and the Buryats, are Byelorussians, Armenians, Ukranians, and Tatars.

The population growth was as follows: 1887 - 300 thousand people; 1926 - 388,9 thousand people; 1939 - 545, 8 thousand people; 1959 - 673, 3 thousand people; 1970 - 812, 2 thousand people; 1979 - 899, 4 thousand people; 1989 - 1038 thousand people; 1996 - 1058 thousand people. Since 1994 there have been a gradual decrease of the population under the influence of social, economic and demographic factors. As of January 1, 2003 there were 987 thousand people living in Buryatia. Average population density is 3,0 people per 1 sq. km. The urban population is about 60 % of all the population of the Republic, with about third of the population living in Ulan-Ude, the capital of Buryata.

 Native population of the Republic is the Buryats, the Evenks and the Soyots. Since the beginning of the 1990-s some national groups have created national - cultural associations and centres, began to revive national culture, promote it among local population of the republic. Ethnic groups of the Jews, the Germans, the Poles, the Koreans, the Armenians, the Azerbaijanians, the Tatars, the Byelorussians are very active.
In Buryatiya harmonious relations between different ethnic groups have been developed and supported for a long time. Mixed marriages are frequent. Conditions for development and interaction of various cultures are favorable. It creates positive background for the development of cooperation, mutual understanding and friendship, which are traditional for the Republic.