What is the official language of Russia at the federal level?
Russian stands alone as the only official language at Russia's federal level. Article 68 of the Constitution allows republics to establish other official languages within their borders.
Questions about Languages of Russia
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Which minority languages have state status in Dagestan according to census data from 2010?
Dagestan hosts fourteen distinct literary languages including Aghul, Avar, and Lezgian alongside Russian. The 2010 census recorded 800,000 speakers for Avar alone while Bashkir speakers numbered over 1.1 million that same year.
How many indigenous languages became extinct after Michael Krauss documented them in 1995?
Several indigenous tongues have vanished since Michael Krauss documented them in 1995. Kerek, Aleut, Medny Aleut, Akkala Sami, Oroch, and Yugh became extinct after that year.
What percentage of Russians knew a foreign language during Levada Center surveys from 2005 to 2008?
Levada Center surveys from 2005 to 2008 showed fifteen percent of Russians knew a foreign language. English dominated with eighty percent claiming free speech ability among those who spoke any foreign tongue.
Why did French usage decline among the Russian upper class following the eighteenth century?
French served as a common language for upper class Russians during the eighteenth century but declined following military conflicts between the two nations. Modern surveys show less than one percent speak French today.