The Baikal Territory is the heart of the Siberian part of the country. It is rich in its own traditions, different hardened mentality and a wide variety of residents.
But how many people are in the Irkutsk region? And what nations is it represented?
Irkutsk region: quantitative data
Irkutsk region is a subject of Russia located in the southeastern part of the federal district of Siberia.
Irkutsk region covers an area of 767, 900 km 2, which puts it in 5th place among all Russian regions. In percentage terms, this Siberian subject occupies 4.6% of the total area of the country.
Irkutsk region is formed by:
- 32 districts;
- 10 urban districts;
- 63 urban settlements;
- 362 rural settlements;
- 22 cities.
2 408 901 people live in the regional territory (data for 2017).
Ethnic diversity of the Irkutsk region
Within the Irkutsk region, various peoples live. Diversity is associated with the constant relocation of people of different nationalities to this subject from both neighboring regions and from distant regions. In addition, the peoples of the former USSR live in the region.
The national contingent is made up of the following peoples:
- Russians - 88.5%;
- Ukrainians - 3.4%;
- Buryat peoples - 2.7%;
- Tatars - 1.4%.
Only about 100 nationalities make up the regional ethnos.
Buryats, occupying the 3rd place in terms of quantity, inhabit Ust-Orda in the Buryat district. According to estimates, their number corresponds to 80, 000 people.
The Katanga region is inhabited by the peoples of the Yakuts and Evenks. In the Eastern Sayan region, in the Nizhneudinsky district, there are tofs - hunting peoples.
Buryat peoples of the Irkutsk region
Buryats are the indigenous inhabitants of Siberia. Their appearance within the current Irkutsk region is celebrated as early as 2500 years BC. The proof of this is the cave paintings discovered by the Baikal scientists and the ancient sites of the tribes of the Buryat peoples.
At the beginning of the 17th century, when there was an active development of Siberia, there was a contact between the Russians and the Buryat tribes. In the same period, Buryatia joined Russia.
At the beginning of the 20th century, martial law was legalized in the territory where the Buryat tribes lived, and land and property were taken from the indigenous inhabitants. And only with the establishment of Soviet power did the Buryat peoples manage to regain their former position.
The numerical indicator of residents by city
The territorial composition of the region is represented by 22 cities, the largest of which are Irkutsk, Bratsk and Angarsk.
The total population of the Irkutsk region is slightly decreasing. But the population of the capital is gradually growing. The number of people living in the heart of the region - Irkutsk - is 623 736 people.
The population of the city of Bratsk in the Irkutsk region is 231 602 people, and 226 374 people live in the next most important city of Angarsk.
Census of the region for 2016
The population of the Irkutsk region for 2016 is 2, 412, 138 people.
For 2015, the indicator was at the level of 2, 414, 913 residents. The population of the Irkutsk region is still lower than the cities. The decrease in number is associated with the relocation of people to other areas and regions. Statistics note that even high fertility rates could not compensate for the decline in the region’s population.
However, an influx of residents of the CIS countries continues into the Siberian region.
Cities of the Irkutsk region
Major cities of the region include: Irkutsk, Bratsk and Angarsk.
Irkutsk is the capital city of Pribaikalye. It extends to 277.35 km.
The city began its existence as a fortress, erected in 1661 on the banks of the mighty Angara. Within the limits of this defensive fortress, a settlement settled, which passed into the status of a city in 1686.
The townspeople consider both of these dates to be important, representing a starting point for the existence of the city. In this regard, in 1986 Irkutsk held a celebration dedicated to its 300th anniversary, and in 2011, the celebration was timed to coincide with the 350th anniversary.
As for the inhabitants inhabiting the city, their composition is diverse and unites 120 different peoples. Each nation has its own religion, this is reflected in the fact that in the Siberian capital you can find churches, mosques, churches and other religious buildings.
The city has a considerable birth rate, which exceeds the number of deaths. It will not be amiss to note that of all the cities of Siberia, Irkutsk excels in suicides among youth. The reasons are often low living standards and lack of prospects. But the influx of visitors influences the increase in the number of residents.
There are many universities in the city that annually graduate good specialists from their walls. However, yesterday’s students at home do not apply their skills, as they move to more developed cities.
Bratsk is an electricity supplier for the entire eastern part of the Siberian District. The Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station was built in the middle of the 20th century. It was her appearance that served as the occasion for the foundation of the city. The official laying date of this Siberian city is considered to be 1955, although some historical data indicate a different date, earlier.
In the 50s of the 20th century, when there was an active development of the settlement, many representatives of different nations flocked to the territory of the future city, who remained there to live and formed the future ethnic composition of Bratsk.
Based on the fact that Bratsk is a young city, the bulk of its population is represented by young, able-bodied people, who make up 64% of the total number of the region.
Angarsk is the third most important city in the Irkutsk region. As in other regional subjects, the number of residents within it decreases every year. The reason is the same - a change in the place of residence of people. The main part of the city's residents are elderly and elderly people, since the active working population in the person of youth is trying to leave Angarsk in order to find acceptable conditions.
Residents of cities and villages
Of the 22 cities in the region, only 5 have a population of just over 100, 000. The urban population is predominantly young able-bodied people who move to the city from villages. Also, the large composition of educational institutions in it affects the young composition of the city. Therefore, Irkutsk is a student city.
In addition to cities, the region has 66 urban-type settlements and 1, 500 other settlements. The number of inhabitants is increasing naturally, due to good fertility. However, the large migration of youth from rural areas to urban conditions significantly reduces the number of people.
Employment of residents of the region
Residents of both Irkutsk and its regions work in many industrial fields. At what enterprises does the population of the region work?
- Furniture manufacturing company. The large commercial company Atrium has been manufacturing all kinds of furniture for 13 years and is a major supplier of its goods to other Russian regions.
- Sewing factory “Vid” - one of the oldest enterprises in Irkutsk, has been operating since 1930. Costumes for men and schoolchildren are produced here.
- Irkutsk ceramic factory. The company produces building bricks and has long established itself in the Russian market. The company was twice awarded the title and prize in the nomination "The best product of the country."
- Irkutsk Aviation Plant. Both passenger and combat and training aircraft leave the conveyors of the plant.
- Jewelry factory of Irkutsk. Precious jewelry of high quality - that's what goes on sale from the walls of the enterprise.
- Irkutsk plant for the production of pipes used for the transfer of drinking water, gas, for the sewer system.
- Oil refinery Angarsk.
This is not a complete list of industrial enterprises operating within the boundaries of Irkutsk, Bratsk and Angarsk. Therefore, the employment of the population of the Irkutsk region is mainly focused on large factory companies.
