Moscow Population 2024

Moscow's 2024 population is now estimated at 12,712,305In 1950, the population of Moscow was 5,356,392Moscow has grown by 31,916 in the last year, which represents a 0.25% annual change.These population estimates and projections come from the latest revision of the UN World Urbanization Prospects. These estimates represent the Urban agglomeration of Moscow, which typically includes Moscow's population in addition to adjacent suburban areas.

Moscow is the capital city and most populous federal subject of Russia, and the northernmost megacity on the planet. It's also the second most populous city in Europe and the 11th largest city proper on earth. In 2016, the estimated population was 12.19 million.

City and Population Size

At its last census in 2010, Moscow had a population of 11.5 million. In 2012, its territory expanded from 1,000 to 2,511 square kilometers, which added an additional 233,000 people. As Russia's official figures are not believed to be completely accurate, and taking into consideration the high rates of illegal immigration, the true figure today may be anywhere from 13 to 17 million, although 2016 estimates put the population right under 13 million. The next census is planned for 2020, so we will have to wait for the fresh data to roll in.

Moscow's population of about 12.19 million makes it the 6th largest city in the world and the most populous city in Russia.

Population Density of Moscow

Moscow has a density of 8,537.2 people per square kilometer.

Moscow is run by one mayor, but the city is actually divided into 12 administrative okrugs and 123 districts, each with its own coat of arms and flags and individual heads of each area. The largest administrative okrugs include:

  • Southern Okrug: 1.59 million
  • Eastern Okrug: 1.39 million
  • North-Eastern Okrug: 1.24 million
  • Northern Okrug: 1.11 million
  • South-Eastern Okrug: 1.12 million

Moscow Demographics

According to the 2010 Census, the ethnic composition of Moscow was:

  • Russian: 91.6%
  • Ukranian: 1.42%
  • Tatar: 1.38%
  • Armenian: 0.98%
  • Azeri: 0.5%
  • Jews: 0.49%
  • Belarusian: 0.4%
  • Uzbek: 0.3%
  • Tajik: 0.2%
  • Moldovan: 0.2%
  • Mordvin: 0.2%
  • Chechen: 0.1%
  • Chuvash: 0.1%
  • Ossetians: 0.1%
  • Other: 1.6%

There was an additional 668,000 people registered in databases that could not declare an ethnicity.

Moscow's official population is based on its residents with "permanent residency." It's believed there are an additional 1.8 million official "guests" on temporary residency through visas or documentation. Those without documentation, mostly from Central Asia, are believed to add another 1 million people.

The predominant religion is Christianity, with the Russian Orthodox Church being the most popular, as Moscow is the capital of Orthodox Christianity in the country, and a part of Russia's historical heritage in a law passed 16 years ago. Muslims, meanwhile, account for 14% of the city's population.

Interestingly, Moscow also had the largest community of billionaires in the world in 2013. The country fell to the number three spot in 2016, trailing behind New York City and Hong Kong.

Moscow Population Growth

It's hard to even estimate where Moscow is today, as the number of migrants (legal and illegal) has made it impossible to keep track of Russia and Europe's largest city. While the official figure was 11.5 million as of 2010, this number could really be as high as 17 million in 2016, and this makes it difficult to pinpoint where Moscow is going in the coming decades.

Migrants, both legal and illegal, have been coming to Moscow in droves from other parts of Russia and former Soviet republics in search of better living conditions and higher pay, and this will continue as long as Moscow offers higher standards than the rest of Russia. The average monthly salary in the state is 61,200 roubles, which is almost double the nationwide average.

Death rates have been higher than birth rates in Moscow for years, and its growth is now solely dependent on migration. While Russia's population is shrinking (although slower than previously expected), more people continue to move to Moscow, which grew 10.9% from 2002 to 2010, while the country's population decreased 1.2%.

Time will tell how high Moscow's population can grow in the next twenty years, but its growth rate will certainly outpace Russia's.

Country
Russia
Growth Rate
0.25%

Moscow Population 2024

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Year
Population
Growth Rate
Growth
19505,356,392
19515,432,6601.42%76,268
19525,510,1211.43%77,461
19535,588,4691.42%78,348
19545,668,0411.42%79,572
19555,748,7461.42%80,705
19565,830,7141.43%81,968
19575,913,6211.42%82,907
19585,997,8231.42%84,202
19596,083,2241.42%85,401
19606,169,9611.43%86,737
19616,257,6911.42%87,730
19626,346,7921.42%89,101
19636,437,1621.42%90,370
19646,528,9461.43%91,784
19656,621,7801.42%92,834
19666,716,0651.42%94,285
19676,811,6931.42%95,628
19686,908,8171.43%97,124
19697,007,0531.42%98,236
19707,106,4571.42%99,404
19717,206,8301.41%100,373
19727,308,7631.41%101,933
19737,411,8501.41%103,087
19747,516,5371.41%104,687
19757,622,7031.41%106,166
19767,730,5171.41%107,814
19777,839,5531.41%109,036
19787,950,2811.41%110,728
19798,050,0371.25%99,756
19808,136,1411.07%86,104
19818,222,9241.07%86,783
19828,310,7571.07%87,833
19838,399,5271.07%88,770
19848,489,3691.07%89,842
19858,579,9201.07%90,551
19868,671,5651.07%91,645
19878,764,1891.07%92,624
19888,857,9311.07%93,742
19898,933,0630.85%75,132
19908,986,6310.6%53,568
19919,040,5200.6%53,889
19929,067,5110.3%26,991
19939,066,913-0.01%-598
19949,110,9410.49%44,028
19959,200,9940.99%90,053
19969,334,3681.45%133,374
19979,512,8871.91%178,519
19989,682,4761.78%169,589
19999,842,0721.65%159,596
200010,004,5231.65%162,451
200110,169,1981.65%164,675
200210,336,8161.65%167,618
200310,479,9601.38%143,144
200410,615,0131.29%135,053
200510,751,4281.29%136,415
200610,889,7881.29%138,360
200711,029,9291.29%140,141
200811,172,0691.29%142,140
200911,315,6431.29%143,574
201011,461,2641.29%145,621
201111,584,3671.07%123,103
201211,699,0090.99%114,642
201311,814,4660.99%115,457
201411,931,2240.99%116,758
201512,049,1350.99%117,911
201612,168,3770.99%119,242
201712,288,4650.99%120,088
201812,409,7380.99%121,273
201912,476,1710.54%66,433
202012,537,9540.5%61,783
202112,593,2520.44%55,298
202212,640,8180.38%47,566
202312,680,3890.31%39,571
202412,712,3050.25%31,916
202512,737,3560.2%25,051
202612,756,5040.15%19,148
202712,770,8040.11%14,300
202812,781,4010.08%10,597
202912,789,3820.06%7,981
203012,795,7120.05%6,330
203112,800,9840.04%5,272
203212,805,6570.04%4,673
203312,810,3660.04%4,709
203412,815,8450.04%5,479
203512,822,7480.05%6,903
showing: 86 rows

Moscow Population Data (Urban Area)

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Other Cities in Russia

  1. Federal State Statistics Service - Moscow population and demographic information
  2. Moscow City Duma - Moscow city government and information

Sources