How many men and women are there in Russia: figures by age and charts
In Russia, 67.9 million men and 78.2 million women lived in 2024. The difference is 10.3 million people, or 1,152 women for every thousand men. Rosstat data.
But the overall ratio hides the main point: up to thirty years of age, there are more men than women in the country, and the imbalance changes sign only in middle age. Below is a breakdown by age groups, a comparison of urban and rural areas, and a series of ratios since 1959.
More men are born
Let's start with the younger groups. Number of women per 1,000 men of the corresponding age, data for 2024.
| Age | Women per 1,000 men |
|---|---|
| 0-4 years | 943 |
| 5-9 years | 943 |
| 10-14 years | 944 |
| 15-19 years | 952 |
| 20-24 years | 932 |
| 25-29 years | 969 |
| 30-34 years | 1,014 |
| 35-39 years | 1,032 |
| 40-44 years | 1,066 |
| 45-49 years | 1,106 |
| 50-54 years | 1,128 |
| 55-59 years | 1,209 |
| 60-64 years | 1,341 |
| 65-69 years | 1,519 |
| 70 years and older | 2,124 |
This is biology: about 5-6% more boys are born than girls, and the ratio of about 943 women per 1,000 men in childhood ages is repeated in all countries.
Then the difference in mortality begins to take effect. The male surplus lasts up to 29 years, and in the 30-34 age group it becomes reversed for the first time. By 60-64 years, there are 1,341 women per thousand men, and by 70 years and older, 2,124, meaning there are twice as many women.
The full table for all ages and years can be viewed on the chart.
Ratio by Year: The Legacy of War
The Rosstat series begins with the 1959 census and shows how slowly the demographic wound is healing.
| Year | Women per 1,000 men |
|---|---|
| 1959 | 1,242 |
| 1970 | 1,196 |
| 1979 | 1,174 |
| 1989 | 1,140 |
| 2002 | 1,147 |
| 2010 | 1,164 |
| 2019 | 1,154 |
| 2024 | 1,152 |
In 1959, the imbalance was monstrous: 1,242 women per thousand men, a direct consequence of the Great Patriotic War. By 1989, the wartime generations had passed away, and the figure dropped to 1,140, the best value in the entire series.
Then a reversal occurred. In the nineties and two thousands, the mortality rate of working-age men rose sharply, and by 2010 the ratio returned to 1,164. Since then, it has been slowly improving again: 1,152 in 2024. The country is twelve points short of the 1989 level.
Absolute Figures
| Year | Men, million | Women, million | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 68.70 | 78.19 | 9.49 |
| 2010 | 66.02 | 76.82 | 10.80 |
| 2015 | 68.02 | 78.73 | 10.71 |
| 2020 | 68.74 | 79.22 | 10.48 |
| 2024 | 67.92 | 78.20 | 10.28 |
The jump between 2014 and 2015 in both series is explained by the inclusion of Crimea and Sevastopol in the statistics. The minimum of the male population occurred in 2008-2009, about 66 million, followed by growth that was interrupted in 2021.
Urban and Rural Areas
The sex ratio varies significantly by type of settlement. Data for 2024.
| Age | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| 20-24 years | 941 | 906 |
| 25-29 years | 999 | 885 |
| 30-34 years | 1,051 | 895 |
| 40-44 years | 1,097 | 967 |
| 55-59 years | 1,259 | 1,090 |
| 70 years and older | 2,183 | 1,953 |
| Total population | 1,181 | 1,069 |
The picture is mirrored. In rural areas, there are only 885 women per thousand men aged 25-29, whereas in urban areas there is almost parity (999). Young women leave villages for cities more often and earlier than men: to study, work, and build their lives. In cities, this results in a surplus of women starting from age 25, while in rural areas it leads to a shortage of brides up to age forty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many men and women are there in Russia?
67.9 million men and 78.2 million women according to data for 2024. Women account for 53.5% of the population.
Why are there more women in Russia?
Not because of the birth rate: more boys are born than girls. The gap is created by mortality. Men die earlier, and by age 70, there are twice as few of them left than women of the same generation.
At what age are there more men than women?
Up to and including 29 years. In the 25-29 age group, there are 969 women per 1000 men, and in the 30-34 age group, there are already 1014. The tipping point lies between these two cohorts.
How much does the sex ratio depend on war?
In 1959, there were 1242 women per 1000 men, which is a direct consequence of the Great Patriotic War. By 1989, the figure had dropped to 1140. The current 1152 is no longer shaped by war, but by the difference in life expectancy.
Where do more single women live, in urban or rural areas?
The imbalance in favor of women is noticeably stronger in cities: 1181 compared to 1069 in rural areas. At the same time, in rural age groups of 25-39 years, the situation is reversed, with a shortage of women there.
Is the gap between men and women narrowing?
Slowly. From 1164 in 2010 to 1152 in 2024. The main contribution comes from the decline in male mortality at working ages.
In brief
There are 67.9 million men and 78.2 million women in Russia, a difference of 10.3 million people. Up to the age of 29, there are more men, after 30 the picture reverses, and by the age of 70, there are twice as many women. The nationwide ratio (1,152 women per 1,000 men) is still worse than the 1989 figure, and in rural areas, young men lack female peers.
All series are taken from open publications of Rosstat and are updated on the website as new data is released.
See also
- Life expectancy in Russia by year, where the gap comes from
- International migration in Russia