The advantageous geographical position predetermined that the city of Astrakhan, whose population is still growing steadily, will become a major transport hub for the entire Lower Volga region. Sea and river ports, as well as rail and air traffic, have made the ancient city a frequently visited place not only for connoisseurs of historical and cultural heritage. The settlement has long attracted merchants, artisans and workers, many of whom subsequently remained in Astrakhan for good, forming the modern look of the city.
A brief history of the city's formation
Even in the thirteenth century, a small settlement appeared on the territory of such a future city as Astrakhan. The population then did not differ in diversity: the majority was the ruling elite of the Golden Horde, who adopted a new religion - Islam. But the city very quickly became a major trade hub, metalworking, jewelry craftsmanship and pottery were actively developing. Afterthe settlement fell into decay several times, and a new period in the history of the formation of the city began when the Tatar Astrakhan became Russian.
From the sixteenth century, Astrakhan became not only a military outpost of Russia in the southeast, but also the main trade "gateway" to Asia. The settlement grew and developed, however, from time to time the population of Astrakhan suffered from devastating epidemics: for example, the plague of 1692 claimed the lives of two-thirds of the inhabitants of the city.
Population dynamics of Astrakhan
The first mention of the population of Astrakhan dates back to 1897. At that time, 112 thousand people lived in the city. By the beginning of the twentieth century, the population had increased to 120,000 permanent residents. During the Civil War, fierce fighting broke out in the city, but the population continued to grow, mainly due to visitors. The Great Patriotic War did not stop the growth in the number of inhabitants. In those days, many hospitals were concentrated in the city, and the settlement itself became an important transshipment point for fuel from the Caucasus to the central part of the RUSSR.
Even the dashing 90s did not cause a stable demographic crisis, which was typical in those years for Russia as a whole. The number of inhabitants of the city fell in some years, but Astrakhan, whose population was replenished at the expense of visitors, grew steadily. By 2000, the population of the city reached 486 thousand people.
Today's population and national composition
Today, the population of Astrakhan is almost 532 thousand people, which is almost half of the total population of the region. In the city itself, the majority of the population (about 80%) is concentrated on the left bank of the Volga.
As for the ethnic composition, Astrakhan, whose population is represented by more than 173 nationalities, unites representatives of various nationalities. Thus, the majority are Russians (almost 78% of the population), Tatars are in second place (7%), followed by Kazakhs, Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Ukrainians. There are very few Nogai Tatars, Avars and Lezgins living in Astrakhan - the indigenous peoples of the Caucasus, Gypsies and representatives of other nationalities.
Other demographics
Since 2007, positive population growth has been steadily recorded in Astrakhan. True, before that, negative indicators had been kept since 1996. Recently, the birth rate has significantly (in comparison with the national statistics) exceeded the death rate.
The average life expectancy of the population of Astrakhan at birth (i.e. without taking into account lifestyle, heredity, the likelihood of accidents, and so on) is currently seventy-one years and three months. The indicator slightly exceeds similar figures for the Russian Federation as a whole (seventy years and five months).
