Talk:Russia

" Its economy ranks among the largest in the world by both nominal GDP ..."

Does this capture reality? About to drop to tenth place where nominal GDP is concerned and likely not to remain in the top 10; much smaller than any of the top seven - is that really "among the largest in the world"? As the article rightly points out, a predominantly primary sector economy...

(Also, I did plenty of work on purchasing power parities in my younger years and would warn against "GDP on a PPP basis" for all the usual reasons, starting with differences in quality.) Der mit den vielen Titeln (talk) 19:10, 27 July 2026 (UTC)

@Der mit den vielen Titeln What do you think the lead should say about the economy? Chidgk1 (talk) 12:28, 27 August 2026 (UTC)

How would you feel about less developed country?

The term "developing", "with high income" (World Bank, link 1 below) currently seems somewhat misleading. A focus on the level of GDP is also misleading because, really, it is "disappointing" considering land mass and population.

Rank 65 on GDP per capita (IMF 2026)

Rank 64 on HDI (2023), among which rank 119 on life expectancy.

Large primary sector element, particularly oil & gas (around 15% of GDP and close to 50% of federal budget revenue).

Changes in real GDP are highly correlated with changes in the - volatile - price of Brent oil. This is indicative of an economic dependence both on fossil fuels and on the US dollar.

Obviously the data since the start of the Ukraine war cannot be trusted and probably weaken the case for the above statement; but using raw data from 2005 to 2025, the simple correlation between changes in real GDP and changes in the Brent oil price is

0.833 up to 2025, using percentages

0.865 up to 2024, using percentages

0.881 up to 2025, using logs

0.911 up to 2024, using logs

The share of agriculture in GDP is also significantly higher than the developed economy median & range.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_country

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29_per_capita

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

https://finance.mail.ru/article/dolya-neftegazovogo-sektora-v-vvp-rossii-upala-do-istoricheskogo-minimuma-69205741/

https://nprom.online/news/neftegaz-snizil-svoj-vklad-v-vvp-v-2025-godu/

https://iz.ru/2111977/2026-06-08/dolia-neftegazovykh-dokhodov-v-vvp-rossii-snizhaetsia-chto-nuzhno-znat

https://bankiros.ru/wiki/term/struktura-vvp-rossii-po-otraslam

https://ru.theglobaleconomy.com/Russia/share_of_agriculture/

https://statbase.ru/data/rus-agriculture-and-fishing-value-added-share/

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=RU

https://www.statistico.com/s/brent-crude-oil-price-by-year

https://x.com/EIAgov/status/1942624126637576593

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=66944 Der mit den vielen Titeln (talk) 00:08, 29 August 2026 (UTC)

I removed nominal GDP from the lead as it is less than Italy and not mentioned in that article Chidgk1 (talk) 15:24, 30 August 2026 (UTC)

@Chidgk1: I restored nominal terms to the lead as Russia is ranked 8th as of the recent IMF revision, that position does warrant being called "one of the largest in the world". India, ranked 6th, for example, also has the claim that its economy is one of the largest in the world. France, at 7th, also has listed its nominal and PPP GDP as one of the largest in the world. So for Russia it should be no different. I have went ahead and restored the nominal terms for the Italy article. Economies ranked as 1-10 should be listed as one of the largest. Swoonfed ^(Ping) 13:39, 18 October 2026 (UTC)

I don't think saying it has one of the largest economies is controversial, either, especially when considering that there are almost 200 countries. Nominal GDP and PPP-adjusted GDP are both widely used. Mellk (talk) 05:37, 19 October 2026 (UTC)

Smaller than Italy, and much less developed, qualifies as "one of the largest in the world"?

That is immensely misleading.

Let's take this down a few intellectual notches for illustration: If you fail to make the quarterfinals in a football world cup, you are not among the top countries. Period. ~2026-56836-62 (talk) 14:07, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

If you are tenth and one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the leaders, you are not among the largest. ~2026-56836-62 (talk) 14:16, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

Correct. Especially if, in reality, the country in question is clearly underdeveloped. Der mit den vielen Titeln (talk) 14:34, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

GDP

Producing a lot of weapons=GDP increases. Life quality doesn't, but GDP does. tgeorgescu (talk) 09:26, 14 October 2026 (UTC)

In any case, needs a source that confirms what is being said. What source other than Wikipedia claims that Russia has the 4th highest GDP in the world in October 2026? TylerBurden (talk) 16:24, 14 October 2026 (UTC)

@TylerBurden: The rankings are created according to the data published by the IMF, also the World Bank. Now, in terms of PPP, Russia does rank the 4th highest in the world. You can easily find that through the attached references. Also through the World Bank database. It has done so for about years now, not only as of October 2026. You're going around stamping dubious tags for the rankings here, we can do this for every single article here. And now you're asking me to FIND INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS for a country - which IMF, WB or any institutional database doesn't do. Just so you can actually keep the dubious tags put there. What level of pettiness have we reached here? What I find incredibly amazing, you won't do this for any other country but Russia. Swoonfed ^(Ping) 09:59, 15 October 2026 (UTC)

You say this is easy to find yet can only refer to a source that says no such thing in plain text anywhere, in other words WP:SYNTH. I do not see what is so amazing about tagging material where you actually notice issues, this is normal practice and I do not have time to follow every country article on Wikipedia, if this issue exists elsewhere then by all means be the change you want to see and add the tags there yourself. I find it more amazing that you so easily lose your cool and resort to aspersions and personal attacks on this article. TylerBurden (talk) 11:36, 15 October 2026 (UTC)

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?locations=RU&most_recent_value_desc=true and https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PPPSH@WEO/RUS. Cheese240 (talk) 16:04, 15 October 2026 (UTC)

@Cheese240: But that is not sufficient information for the individual above. I was making the same argument. @TylerBurden: wants EXPLICIT mentioning of the exact rankings, as in 1, 2, 3. But that applies to only one country under his watch (Russia). He'll order others to scour the internet for it because he is above this.

Its because he knows that they are not available on the internet. People do not have unlimited time on their hands to create pointless d-measuring lists to spam across the internet for stuff people already can search up on Wikipedia. So according to this man the Wikipedia articles created specifically for the rankings BASED on those reliable, institutional sources are entirely fradulent and WP:SYNTH. Not for OTHER countries though, only for Russia. So the tags will stay put until eternity. Incredible. Swoonfed ^(Ping) 16:47, 15 October 2026 (UTC)

"However, when adjusting for relative purchasing power Russia sees a massive boost, as a cheaper overall country, and soars to become Europe’s top economy at $7.3 trillion. By this metric, in fact, Russia is fourth worldwide behind only China, the U.S., and India." Cheese240 (talk) 16:52, 15 October 2026 (UTC)

I think this is what he is looking for. Cheese240 (talk) 16:53, 15 October 2026 (UTC)

Yes, that source clearly states the actual ranking, thanks. TylerBurden (talk) 14:57, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

You’re welcome Cheese240 (talk) 15:00, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

Yes, that is indeed complete BS. Straight out of St Peterburg. Hello Russian bots. ~2026-56836-62 (talk) 14:09, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

I am not a Russian bot, I am simply stating facts. Cheese240 (talk) 14:41, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

Actually, Russian GDP growth is at an all time low from about 6% in 2021 to about 0.5% in 2025 and it fell from being 56th best country in the world in terms of HDI in 2022 to 64th in 2023 and is projected to fall further. Cheese240 (talk) 15:18, 16 October 2026 (UTC)

Exactly. Fourth largest in the world if you measure everything incorrectly. Less developed if you look at the components of HDI. Basic things. ~2026-56836-62 (talk) 14:10, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

GDP PPP is not an "incorrect" way to measure economy. It ranks economies based on the local prices and cost of living. Cheese240 (talk) 14:55, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

I used to be a leading expert on purchasing power parities. There are many issues to correct for (which the OECD estimates do not do). Depending on the country, e.g. quality differences and tax effects.

Russia is an underdeveloped country by any genuine measure.

Any other conclusion is Putin propaganda. Der mit den vielen Titeln (talk) 14:59, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

That is not true Cheese240 (talk) 15:06, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

If you do not mind me asking, what do you mean by used to? Cheese240 (talk) 15:07, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

I worked as an economist in my younger years. ~2026-57003-83 (talk) 04:40, 27 October 2026 (UTC)

The Russian average income is far lower compared to it's Western European counterparts. Cheese240 (talk) 15:14, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

But compared to the world it is a upper middle income country Cheese240 (talk) 15:23, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

The World Bank classifies it as high income. But I do not really see the relevance here. China ranks 1st by PPP-adjusted GDP and 2nd by nominal GDP, even though it is classified as upper-middle income. Mellk (talk) 15:29, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

That was my point against the Russia is underdeveloped claim Cheese240 (talk) 15:34, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

@Cheese240: I understand you're new to this, but keep your arguments in one paragraph, at once. Instead of stacking them up on top of each other. This is a needless overcrowding of the talk page, especially when the matter at hand is a nonsensical ramble leading to nowhere. There's no point of this conversation, at all. We aren't talking about GDP per capita or HDI in the lead, the rankings of Russian GDP by PPP and nominal - 4th and 8th respectively, does make it one of the largest economies in the world, where there's about 200 countries. I'm going to say it again, if India and France, ranked 6th and 7th, get to state the same sentence in their leads, so does Russia. I hope you understand. Swoonfed ^(Ping) 15:36, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

Yes Cheese240 (talk) 15:54, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

Great, GDP PPP is now Putin propaganda. Guess what, I am also a leading expert because I said so. Mellk (talk) 15:20, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

Anything that is used regularly by Putin's propaganda in order to obscure reality is indeed Putin propaganda. ~2026-57003-83 (talk) 04:44, 27 October 2026 (UTC)

Change to “Under a totalitarian personalist dictatorship”?

With Putin’s regime becoming more and more totalitarian, it just seems fitting that “Authoritarian government” just isn’t enough to properly describe it. He has completely outlawed dissent, and thus his regime has just about total control over all aspects of Russian civil society, which is why it seems fair to describe it as a totalitarian personalist dictatorship. ~2026-55642-86 (talk) 15:41, 17 October 2026 (UTC)

Question: There is no totalitarian personalist dictatorship article. Do you mean totalitarianism? Peaceray (talk) 20:42, 17 October 2026 (UTC)

I think you misread my post. Yes, I mean totalitarianism. But it is also a personalist dictatorship given recent developments within Putin’s regime. ~2026-56127-03 (talk) 14:10, 19 October 2026 (UTC)

Correct. Personalist dictatorship with essentially all the features of fascism. ~2026-56836-62 (talk) 14:12, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

How is Russia a totalitarian dictatorship tho? Sounds weird. Wiz KDDI (talk) 20:01, 30 October 2026 (UTC)

Because it is ruled by Vladimir Putin? According to the University of Gothenburg, considered by political scientists to be the world’s most comprehensive database on democracy metrics, 5.6 out of 100 in democracy.1 TylerBurden (talk) 07:45, 31 October 2026 (UTC)

Size

@Moxy: just added a template about the size and the total words, but I do not really see any area where copy-editing or trimming would be useful without cutting out information that should otherwise stay on this article. Some articles don't need to be slim or light. Some do. Russia definitely does not, as its history is more complex than that of most countries. For example, the article about the United States has nearly 14,597 words, nearly identical to this article. But it doesn't have a tag on it.

@Mellk: what do you think? I did expand the Imperial era section a bit yesterday. Swoonfed ^(Ping) 05:34, 18 October 2026 (UTC)

I prefer the previous map since it is more relevant for the section about Imperial Russia. The current map incorrectly conflates Muscovite expansion with Russian expansion (from the books I've seen they are usually treated separately) and there are numerous inaccuracies as noted on Commons.

Everything else looks okay to me, though. I don't mind cutting down on some detail on the later history in general in favor of the earlier history (late medieval/early modern is a bit lacking in comparison). As long as we are under 15,000 words. We also maybe have too many sub-headings there. Mellk (talk) 05:35, 19 October 2026 (UTC)

Alright, I've switched to the older map. I agree the sub-headings seem a bit overwhelming. These sub-headings were actually recently introduced as far as I am aware and weren't present in the article before. Though the history section has seen some expansion afterward. I also haven't seen many other country articles introduce this sub-heading system. Some of the sub-headings in the Soviet and RF section could be removed or merged with the other. I think that we could condense the RF section further in order to add more information to the Tsardom section, for example.

What do you suggest about the tag? Should it remain? Swoonfed ^(Ping) 09:30, 19 October 2026 (UTC)

Yes, I remember this was a relatively recent addition. I do not think the tag is warranted at this stage. Before we were at approximately 14,100 words and now we are at approximately 14,400 words. Mellk (talk) 07:31, 20 October 2026 (UTC)

Controlled instead of claimed

Claimed implies they lack control. ~2026-56092-92 (talk) 02:29, 20 October 2026 (UTC)

The word claimed appears four times in the article. Could you be more specific about exactly what you want changed? Peaceray (talk) 04:02, 20 October 2026 (UTC)

the word claim has the implication of wanting something without having it, by changing it to controlled we won't give the crimean annexation any legitimacy as well as clearing up confusion ~2026-56092-92 (talk) 04:52, 21 October 2026 (UTC)

Claimed does not mean legitimacy. Cheese240 (talk) 15:26, 24 October 2026 (UTC)

Extended-confirmed-protected edit request on 25 October 2026

Replace with {{native name}} from {{lang}} then add |paren=omit, see for template discussion. Also, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic has {{native name}} exists with |paren=omit. ~2026-56815-97 (talk) 05:49, 25 October 2026 (UTC)

 Done Umby 🌕🐶 (talk) 05:06, 26 October 2026 (UTC)