Uzbek nationals represent largest foreign population in Russia

As of the end of 2024, 6.3 million foreign citizens are residing in Russia, 1.4 million of whom are Uzbeks. This was reported by Aleksandr Gorovoy, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia, during the IX Labor Forum held in St. Petersburg.

“By the New Year’s Eve, there were 6.3 million foreign citizens in the territory of the Russian Federation. This is 5.1% more than the previous year. The majority of them—89.2%—are staying in Russia legally,” Gorovoy stated.

He recalled that 5-6 years ago, the proportion of foreign nationals living illegally in Russia reached up to 30%.

“Nearly 60% of foreign residents in Russia are citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan,” he added.

According to Gorovoy, more than 9.5 million individuals entered Russia during 2024. Of these:

• 37.9% came for work;
• 4.2% for education;
• 5.7% for tourism; and
• nearly 30% for personal visits.

Additionally, over 9.3 million individuals left Russia during the same period.

Gorovoy noted gradual changes in the composition of the foreign workforce, adding, “For the first time in modern Russian history, Kyrgyz citizens have ranked second in the number of foreign nationals actively employed.”

Foreign Residents Breakdown in Russia

• 1.4 million Uzbeks
• 1 million Tajik nationals
• 663,000 Kyrgyz citizens
• 594,000 Belarusians
• 440,000 Ukrainians
• 271,000 Azerbaijanis
• 259,700 Armenians
• 226,700 Kazakhs
• 128,500 Turkmen nationals
• 124,900 Moldovans

Earlier it was reported that over 80,000 migrants were forcibly expelled from Russia in 2024 for violating migration rules. In Moscow and its region alone, 23,000 migrants were deported last year. They were found guilty of violations under Article 18.8 of the Russian Administrative Code (rules for entering or residing in Russia), and they are banned from returning to Russia for the next five years.