Astrakhan (population): number, dynamics, demographic indicators

Favorable geographical location predetermined that the city of Astrakhan, whose population is still growing steadily, will become a major transport hub of the entire Lower Volga region. The sea and river ports, as well as railway and air communication, have made the ancient city a frequently visited place not only for connoisseurs of historical and cultural heritage. The settlement has long attracted merchants, artisans and workers, many of whom later remained in Astrakhan permanently, forming a modern look of the city.

Brief history of the city's formation

In the thirteenth century a small village appeared on the territory of such a future city as Astrakhan. The population then did not differ in variety: the majority was the ruling elite of the Golden Horde, which adopted a new religion - Islam. But the city very quickly became a major node of trade, metalworking, jewelry making and pottery production were actively developing. After the settlement several times fell into decay, and a new period in the history of the city's formation began since the Tatar Astrakhan became Russian.

Since the sixteenth century, Astrakhan has become not only a military outpost of Russia in the southeast, but also the main trade gateway to Asia. The settlement grew and developed, however, from time to time the population of Astrakhan suffered from devastating epidemics: for example, the plague of 1692 claimed the lives of two-thirds of the city's inhabitants.

Population dynamics of Astrakhan

The first mention of the population of Astrakhan dates back to 1897. Then in the city lived 112 thousand people. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the population had increased to 120,000 permanent residents. During the Civil War, fierce fighting broke out in the city, but the population continued to grow, mainly at the expense of visitors. The Great Patriotic War did not stop the increase in the number of inhabitants. At that time many hospitals were concentrated in the city, and the settlement itself became an important transshipment point of fuel from the Caucasus to the central part of the RFSSR.

Even the dashing 90s did not cause a stable demographic crisis, which was typical in those years for Russia as a whole. The number of residents of the city fell in some years, but Astrakhan, whose population was replenished at the expense of visitors, has steadily grown. By 2000, the city's population reached 486 thousand people.

Today's population and national composition

To date, the population of Astrakhan is almost 532 thousand people, which is almost half of the total number of residents of the region. In the same city, the majority of the population (about 80%) is concentrated on the left bank of the Volga.

As for the ethnic composition, Astrakhan, whose population is represented by more than 173 nationalities, unites representatives of various nationalities. Thus, the majority are Russians (almost 78% of the population), in second place Tatars (7%), followed by Kazakhs, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Ukrainians. Quite a few lives in Astrakhan Nogai Tatars, Avars and Lezgins - indigenous peoples of the Caucasus, Gypsies and representatives of other nationalities.

Other demographic indicators

Since 2007, Astrakhan has consistently recorded a positive population growth. True, before that, negative indicators have been maintained since 1996. In recent years, fertility rates significantly (in comparison with all-Russian statistics) exceed mortality.

The expected life expectancy of the population of Astrakhan at birth (that is, without taking into account the lifestyle, heredity, the likelihood of accidents, etc.) is now seventy-one years and three months. The indicator is slightly higher than similar figures for the Russian Federation as a whole (seventy years and five months).