Countries that speak Russian
Russian is the most spoken Slavic language and the largest native language in Europe, with over 150 million native speakers. It is the official language of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, and is widely understood throughout Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Russian is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and was the lingua franca of the Soviet Union, giving it lasting influence across a vast geographic area.
Complete list of countries that speak Russian
| # | Country | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tajikistan | 10.50M |
| 2 |  Russia | 146.03M |
| 3 |  Uzbekistan | 37.86M |
| 4 |  Turkmenistan | 7.06M |
| 5 |  Kyrgyzstan | 7.28M |
| 6 |  Kazakhstan | 20.43M |
| 7 |  Belarus | 9.11M |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries speak Russian?
Russian is the official language in 4 countries: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is widely spoken as a second language in Ukraine, the Baltic states, Central Asia, and other former Soviet republics.
Is Russian hard to learn?
Russian is moderately difficult for English speakers. The Cyrillic alphabet can be learned in a few weeks, but the six grammatical cases, verb aspects, and unfamiliar sounds present challenges. The FSI estimates about 1,100 hours for proficiency.
How many people speak Russian worldwide?
Approximately 255 million people speak Russian worldwide, with about 150 million native speakers. It is the eighth most spoken language in the world.