How Many Countries Are in Russia?

Russia Is a Single Country – Not a Container of Countries

There are zero countries inside Russia. Russia is a country – the largest in the world by land area (17.1 million km²).

Administrative Structure (Not Countries)

Russia is a federation of 83 federal subjects (as of 2024), which are subnational entities:

• 22 Republics (e.g., Tatarstan, Chechnya, Bashkortostan) – have own constitutions, languages.
• 46 Oblasts (provinces) – standard administrative units.
• 9 Krais (territories) – similar to oblasts, historically frontier regions.
• 4 Autonomous Okrugs – ethnic autonomous areas.
• 3 Federal Cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sevastopol (disputed).
• 1 Autonomous Oblast – Jewish Autonomous Oblast.

Why the Confusion?

• "Republic" in Russian context ≠ sovereign state (unlike USSR union republics).
• Some republics have strong distinct identities (Tatarstan, Sakha, Chechnya).
• Soviet legacy: USSR comprised 15 union republics; Russia was one (RSFSR).

International Borders

Russia shares land borders with 14 countries: Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania (Kaliningrad), Poland (Kaliningrad), Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, North Korea. Maritime borders with Japan and USA.