Capital of Russia: Moscow — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Russia is Moscow. Russia sits in Europe, has a population of 144,713,314, and uses the RUB. Official languages include Russian.
Quick facts
- Capital: Moscow
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~144,713,314
- Area: 17,098,242 km²
- Population density: 8.5 people per km²
- Official language: Russian
- Currency: RUB
- ISO code: RU
How big is Russia?
By population, Russia ranks 9th in the world, holding roughly 1.82% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 1st.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Russia has 8.5 people per square kilometre, which is about 7.0 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Russia is the most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Russia in population are Mexico (127,504,125) and Japan (125,124,989).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Canada (9,984,670 km²) and United States (9,833,517 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Russian is spoken officially in 4 countries in this dataset, including Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Russia uses the RUB, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Russia
Russia stretches over the easternmost part of Europe and the northernmost part of Asia, and Moscow is on the European side. For the flag, read it from top to bottom like snow, sky and sunset: white, blue, red.
The flag of Russia: white, blue and red
🇷🇺 The flag is three horizontal stripes of white, blue and red. No official meaning is given to the colours, which may have been based on the Dutch flag. The flag was first used mostly at sea, when Russia built its first navy ships.
Region and neighbours
Russia is the largest country in the world, stretching across Eastern Europe and North Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It shares land borders with 14 countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. The borders with Lithuania and Poland are along Kaliningrad Oblast, a part of Russia on the Baltic coast that is separated from the rest of the country.
- Norway 🇳🇴 — capital Oslo
- Finland 🇫🇮 — capital Helsinki
- Estonia 🇪🇪 — capital Tallinn
- Latvia 🇱🇻 — capital Riga
- Lithuania 🇱🇹 — capital Vilnius
- Poland 🇵🇱 — capital Warsaw
- Belarus 🇧🇾 — capital Minsk
- Ukraine 🇺🇦 — capital Kyiv
- Georgia 🇬🇪 — capital Tbilisi
- Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 — capital Baku
- Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 — capital Astana
- China 🇨🇳 — capital Beijing
- Mongolia 🇲🇳 — capital Ulaanbaatar
- North Korea 🇰🇵 — capital Pyongyang
Three facts about Russia
- Russia spans eleven time zones and shares land borders with fourteen countries.
- Russia is one of only three countries in the world that border three oceans.
- Mount Elbrus in the Caucasus Mountains, 5,642 m high, is the highest peak in Russia and in Europe.
Sources: Wikipedia: Russia, Wikipedia: Flag of Russia, Wikipedia: Moscow, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Russia
- European capitals quiz — match Russia to Moscow
- European flags quiz — spot the Russia flag among its neighbours
Russia capital quiz
What is the capital of Russia 🇷🇺?
- Belgrade
- Dublin
- Podgorica
- Moscow
Show answer
Moscow
What is the capital of Germany 🇩🇪?
- Berlin
- Budapest
- Zagreb
- Pristina
Show answer
Berlin
What is the capital of United Kingdom 🇬🇧?
- Riga
- London
- Tallinn
- Sarajevo
Show answer
London
What is the capital of France 🇫🇷?
- Athens
- Paris
- Warsaw
- Riga
Show answer
Paris
What is the capital of Italy 🇮🇹?
- Rome
- Sarajevo
- Andorra la Vella
- Luxembourg
Show answer
Rome
Russia in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Germany, United Kingdom, France and Italy.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Russia belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Russia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Russia?
The capital of Russia is Moscow.
What is the population of Russia?
About 144,713,314, making it the 9th most populous country in the world.
How big is Russia?
17,098,242 square kilometres, ranking 1st by land area, at a density of 8.5 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Russia use?
The RUB, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Russia flag?
The flag of Russia is three horizontal stripes of white, blue and red. No official meaning is given to the colours, which may have been based on the Dutch flag. The flag was first used mostly at sea, when Russia built its first navy ships.
Which countries border Russia?
Russia shares land borders with Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia and North Korea. The borders with Lithuania and Poland are along Kaliningrad Oblast, a part of Russia on the Baltic coast that is separated from the rest of the country.
How can I remember the capital of Russia?
Russia stretches over the easternmost part of Europe and the northernmost part of Asia, and Moscow is on the European side. For the flag, read it from top to bottom like snow, sky and sunset: white, blue, red.
More capitals to learn
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