Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, covering over 6,612,073 sq mi and encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass.
Russia extends across eleven time zones, and has the most borders of any country in the world, with sixteen sovereign nations.
It has a population of 146.2 million and is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous country in the world.
Moscow, the capital, is the largest city in Europe while Saint Petersburg is the second-largest city and cultural center.
Russians are the most populous European nation, and Russian is the most spoken native language in Europe.
Russia is a great power, and a potential superpower. It is categorized as "very high" in the Human Development Index, with a universal healthcare system, and a free university education.
Russia's economy is the world's eleventh-largest by nominal GDP and the sixth-largest by PPP. It is a recognized nuclear-weapons state, possessing the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapon; with the second-most powerful military, and the fourth-highest military expenditure.
