Armenians in Russia or Russian Armenians are ethnic Armenians who live in Russia. The 2002 Russian census recorded 1,130,491 Armenians in the country, but most probably did not take into account the Armenian guest workers, most of whom do not hold Russian citizenship. Various figures estimate that the Armenian population actually exceeds 2,900,000.

Regardless, Russia possesses the largest Armenian population outside of Armenia proper, making it home of the largest community in the Armenian diaspora.

Armenians populate various regions, including Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai in the North Caucasus and as far as Vladivostok in the East.

Russian government is encouraging Armenians to immigrate and settle in Russia under Compatriots program and is providing financial and settlement incentives[3]. By some estimates Armenian population in Russia may now exceed the population of Armenia.

There has been an Armenian presence in Russia since the Late Middle Ages, when various artisans, merchants and traders ventured north to the Crimea and the northern Caucasus in order to set up trade ties and conduct commerce.

Distribution

Number of Armenians in Russia by federal subjects and by years.

Rank Federal subject 1959[4] 1970[5] 1979[6] 1989[7] 2002[1]
1 Krasnodar Krai 78,176 98,589 120,797 182,217 274,566
2 Stavropol Krai 25,618 31,096 40,504 72,530 149,249
3 City of Moscow 18,379 25,584 31,414 43,989 124,425
4 Rostov Oblast 49,305 53,620 56,902 62,603 109,994
5 Moscow Oblast 5,353 5,683 7,549 9,245 39,660
6 Volgograd Oblast 2,898 4,229 6,784 26,974
7 Saratov Oblast 1,046 1,815 3,531 6,404 24,976
8 Samara Oblast 1,027 1,629 2,216 4,162 21,566
9 City of Saint-Petersburg 4,897 6,628 7,995 12,070 19,164
10 North Ossetia 12,012 13,355 12,912 13,619 17,147