Located on the picturesque banks of the Tom River, the city of Tomsk is in many ways a unique phenomenon. Founded back in 1604 by the Cossacks of the notorious Yermak Timofeevich, for many decades it was an ordinary provincial town, where officials preparing for retirement were exiled. However, the construction here of the first university in this part of Russia dramatically changed the picture. In a short time, the city has become not only the student capital of Russia, but also one of its scientific centers.
Main demographic characteristics of Tomsk
The population of Tomsk, whose population has been increasing for the last ten years, albeit not at a very fast pace, but has been increasing, is a rather mixed picture. According to the latest statistics, at the beginning of this year, about 586 thousand people live in the city. Compared to 2010, this figure has increased by about forty thousand, but naturally, it is impossible to say that there are no demographic problems in Tomsk.
Firstly, during the Soviet period, the growth rate of the urban population was so high that there wereplans to turn one of the centers of Siberia into a million-plus city. However, due to a significant change in the socio-economic situation throughout the country as a whole, these plans had to be forgotten for now.
Secondly, the population of Tomsk is growing solely due to migration. The city remains very attractive for young people from many other Siberian regions, and the developed industry attracts people from the republics of the former USSR with good earnings. At the same time, very serious problems are observed with the birth rate in Tomsk itself.
Gender and age structure of the population
The population of the city of Tomsk, its gender and age structure are quite typical for a modern, medium-sized city. However, there are a number of features that stem from the fact that Tomsk is currently, first of all, a city of students and scientists.
According to the latest statistics, there are slightly more women than men in the city - 53% versus 47%. At the same time, this excess is formed mainly due to the high mortality of men aged 30-40 years. On the other hand, in most other Russian cities (especially large ones), this disproportion is even more noticeable. Apparently, the fact that Tomsk is an attractive place for young people makes itself felt.
The population of Tomsk is relatively young. The average age is slightly lower than the average for Russia (36 years versus 38). At the same time, the overwhelming majority of citizens (almost 66%) belong to the category of "able-bodied population". Minors and pensioners approx.equally - about 17%. Such figures indicate that the city administration has managed to create the necessary conditions in the village to attract young professionals.
National composition
The population of Tomsk, as well as many other Siberian cities, is very homogeneous in its ethnic composition. Almost 90% of the residents registered here consider themselves Russian ethnos. This fact is not at all surprising if we remember that the city was founded and subsequently developed mainly through the efforts of Russian colonialists from Central Russia.
The second largest ethnic group includes people from Central Asia. The overwhelming majority of them are Uzbeks and Kyrgyz, who have long settled into unfamiliar climatic conditions and play an important role in areas such as retail trade and housing and communal services.
Other nationalities include Tatar, Ukrainian and German diasporas, as well as representatives of the Belarusian and Chuvash peoples. The appearance of the ancestors of these people here was connected with the policy of the Soviet leadership, which, through the system of compulsory distribution, tried to create such national agglomerates in each region of the RSFSR.
Population of Tomsk: division by confessional affiliation
Based on the national structure of the city, it can be assumed that the vast majority of Tomsk residents are Orthodox, and this is true. The first temple - the Trinity Church - was built by the Cossacks-founders, and then untilDuring the October Revolution, another 31 Orthodox temple buildings were erected here. The head of the local diocese paid great attention to missionary work, the baptism of local pagan tribes.
Besides the Orthodox, there are other confessions in Tomsk. So, even before the revolution, there was a fairly spacious Lutheran church here, which was restored in 2006. In addition, the Muslim and Jewish communities, as well as the Old Believers, are active. All these religious organizations coexist peacefully, there are no serious conflicts between them.
Measures of social support for Tomsk citizens
The growing population of Tomsk, which continues even in a not very favorable period, is largely due to the policy pursued by the leadership of the city and the region. Social support for the population of Tomsk includes the following specific activities:
- Payments to veterans of war and labor, home front workers, laureates of Lenin and state awards, pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as some other categories. These payments are regular.
- Compensation payments to certain groups of the population to pay for the services of organizations related to the housing and communal services sector.
- Additional payments to families with a second and subsequent child.
- Helping the most gifted students and young scientists.
Thanks to all these support measures, the population of the city of Tomsk shows a good dynamics of its development. True, it is worth noting that the most attractive citylooks in the eyes of young people who appreciate the level of local education. But more mature people tend to leave here to find a job that matches their high qualifications.
Main problems and development prospects
Tomsk, unlike many other Siberian cities, looks very confident in terms of demographics. To the question "What is the population of Tomsk?" local authorities almost always begin to cite statistical calculations that indicate a positive trend in this indicator. At the same time, there are further problems here.
Firstly, the population of Tomsk, whose number is almost one hundred percent determined by migration, is in a rather difficult situation. Tomsk is a "tidbit" for young people, students and scientists. However, city officials should pay more attention to retaining these cadres after they complete their training.
Secondly, the very unfavorable ecological situation around Tomsk does not contribute to the attractiveness of the city. If earlier this factor was practically not taken into account, now it plays a very important role for those who want to connect their fate with this region.
Finally, thirdly, the fate of Tomsk in many aspects is connected with the fate of all of Siberia, and this is a question for the federal leadership of the country.
