Theatres in the USSR: number and attendance from 1940 to 1960
What does this data slice show? It tracks changes in the number of professional theaters and performance attendance in the USSR during key periods. The figures record the number of theater venues and the scale of audience interest. The data structure highlights trends in theater network development and its popularity among the population. Each row reflects the state of the industry for a specific year
Table columns show the number of professional theaters and the number of spectators in millions for the corresponding years
- Число профессиональных театров — Pofessional theatres
- в том числе — including — оперы и балета — opera and ballet
- в том числе — including — драмы, комедии и музыкальные — drama, comedy and music
- в том числе — including — детские и юного зрителя — for children and young spectators
- в том числе — including — прочие — others
- Численность зрителей, млн человек — Spectators, mln. persons
See also
- Divorces in Russia by year long time series by year
- Marriages in Russia by year long time series by year
- Перевозки пассажиров в России по годам: статистика indicator breakdown
Set in numbers
6 series are published here, from 1940 to 2024, 22 reporting periods. 126 values in total.
Between 1940 and 2024 “Число профессиональных театров — Pofessional theatres” rose from 465 to 728 — 56.6%. The lowest value in the series is 288 in 1960.
All table numbers are series: 6
| Series | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Число профессиональных театров — Pofessional theatres | 465,00 | 304,00 | 288,00 | 310,00 | 324,00 | 382,00 | 547,00 | 604,00 | 618,00 | 643,00 | 658,00 | 661,00 | 665,00 | 651,00 | 649,00 | 657,00 | 671,00 | 669,00 | 679,00 | 666,00 | 706,00 | 728,00 |
| в том числе — including — оперы и балета — opera and ballet | 17,00 | 13,00 | 14,00 | 19,00 | 22,00 | 31,00 | 65,00 | 74,00 | 74,00 | 76,00 | 75,00 | 78,00 | 77,00 | 76,00 | 78,00 | 76,00 | 77,00 | 77,00 | 78,00 | 78,00 | 78,00 | 80,00 |
| в том числе — including — драмы, комедии и музыкальные — drama, comedy and music | 347,00 | 215,00 | 199,00 | 196,00 | 199,00 | 233,00 | 318,00 | 344,00 | 354,00 | 369,00 | 377,00 | 376,00 | 376,00 | 367,00 | 364,00 | 374,00 | 386,00 | 359,00 | 393,00 | 385,00 | 408,00 | 423,00 |
| в том числе — including — детские и юного зрителя — for children and young spectators | 101,00 | 76,00 | 75,00 | 95,00 | 103,00 | 118,00 | 151,00 | 170,00 | 174,00 | 180,00 | 184,00 | 183,00 | 185,00 | 183,00 | 183,00 | 184,00 | 186,00 | 185,00 | 189,00 | 186,00 | 197,00 | 199,00 |
| в том числе — including — прочие — others | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13,00 | 16,00 | 16,00 | 18,00 | 22,00 | 24,00 | 27,00 | 25,00 | 24,00 | 23,00 | 22,00 | 17,00 | 19,00 | 17,00 | 23,00 | 26,00 |
| Численность зрителей, млн человек — Spectators, mln. persons | 53,80 | 42,90 | 56,90 | 69,80 | 71,00 | 55,60 | 30,80 | 31,00 | 32,90 | 33,90 | 35,80 | 37,20 | 38,20 | 38,90 | 39,60 | 40,80 | 41,00 | 16,10 | 25,50 | 36,00 | 41,60 | 42,80 |
How to read this table
Table rows represent specific years at ten-year intervals. The differences between rows reflect both quantitative changes and the overall development of theater infrastructure. In some instances, an increase in the number of theaters was accompanied by higher attendance, while in others, attendance grew faster than the number of theaters. These nuances are key to the analysis. Compare the rows by year to understand the evolution of theater life in the country
What is visible in these numbers
The largest value belongs to “Число профессиональных театров — Pofessional theatres” — 728; the smallest is “в том числе — including — прочие — others” at 26. The gap between them is 28-fold.
The table is 95% filled: Rosstat does not publish every cell, and the gaps are left as they are rather than interpolated.
The same indicator for other periods
More in the section Russian Statistical Yearbook»
Period and application
This dataset covers three key points in the development of Soviet theater: 1940, 1950, and 1960. The data is updated every five years and published in the Russian Statistical Yearbook. It is intended for cultural researchers, arts specialists, and anyone interested in the history of the Soviet Union. Use this data to analyze Soviet cultural policy and the dynamics of theater life
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