Some facts about Russian

THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE is a language of Russia (Europe).
Population: 153,655,000 in the republics of the former USSR. Population total all countries 167,000,000 first language speakers (1999 WA); 277,000,000 including second language users (1999 WA).
Region: Also spoken in 30 other countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova.
Alternate names: RUSSKI
Dialects: NORTH RUSSIAN, SOUTH RUSSIAN.
Classification: Indo-European, Slavic, East.
Comments: The Chuvan are a Yukagiric people now speaking Russian. The Meshcheryak are ethnically Erzya, but speak Russian. The Teryukhan are ethnically Erzya in Gorkiy, but speak Russian. National language. Dictionary. Grammar. SVO; prepositions; genitives after noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; question word initial; 1 prefix on a word; recursive addition of suffixes allowed; nontonal. Christian. Bible 1680-1993.

Also spoken in:
China
Population: 13,504 in China (1990 census).
Alternate names: OLOSSU, ELUOSI, RUSS, RUSSKI
Comments: An official nationality in China. Agriculturalists, animal husbandry. Christian. Bible 1680-1993.

Israel
Population: 750,000 in Israel (1999 H. Mutzafi).
Alternate names: RUSSIT, RUSSKI
Comments: Most speakers use Hebrew as second language but prefer Russian. Radio programs. Jewish. Bible 1860-1993.

Mongolia
Population: 4,000 in Mongolia (1993 Johnstone).
Alternate names: RUSSKI
Comments: Russians who are permanent residents are called 'Mectny Oros'. Widely taught in schools and for higher education. Mainly atheist, many occultist. Bible 1680-1993.

USA
Population: 334,615 in USA (1970 census).
Alternate names: RUSSKI
Comments: The Doukhobors and Molokans are conservative religious groups who speak Standard Russian. Other Russian speakers in the USA have long-standing residence; still others have come more recently. Bible 1680-1993.