Kabardino-Balkaria
Kabardino-Balkarian Republic
Къэбэрдей-Балъкъэр Республикэ (Kabardian) Къабарты-Малкъар Республика (Karachay-Balkar) Кабардино-Балкарская Республика (Russian) | |
---|---|
Anthem: State Anthem of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
Coordinates: 43°35′N 43°24′E / 43.583°N 43.400°E | |
Country | Russia |
Federal district | North Caucasian |
Economic region | North Caucasus |
Capital | Nalchik[6] |
Government | |
• Type | Parliament of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic[9] |
• Head[2] | Kazbek Kokov[3] |
Area | |
• Total | 12,470 km2 (4,810 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Total | ![]() |
• Rank | 56th |
• Urban | 51.9% |
• Rural | 48.1% |
Time zone | UTC+3 (MSK[5]) |
ISO 3166 code | RU-KB |
Vehicle registration | 07 |
Official language(s) | Balkar[7] • Kabardian[7] • Russian[8] |
Website | glava |
Part of a series on the |
Circassians Адыгэхэр |
---|
![]() List of notable Circassians Circassian genocide |
Circassian diaspora |
Circassian tribes |
Surviving Destroyed or barely existing |
Religion |
Religion in Circassia |
Languages and dialects |
|
History |
Show |
Culture |
Kabardino-Balkaria (Russian: Кабарди́но-Балка́рия), officially the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic,[note 1][10][11][12] is a republic of Russia located in the North Caucasus. As of the 2021 Census, its population was 904,200.[13] Its capital is Nalchik. The area contains the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Elbrus, at 5,642 m (18,510 ft). Mount Elbrus has 22 glaciers that feed three rivers — Baksan, Malka and Kuban. The mountain is covered with snow year-round.
Geography
[edit]The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains, with plains in the northern part. The republic shares an international border with Georgia.
- Area: 12,500 square kilometers (4,800 sq mi)
- Borders:
- internal: Stavropol Krai (N/NE), North Ossetia–Alania (E/SE/S), Karachay–Cherkessia (W/NW)
- international: Georgia (Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Zemo Svaneti) (S/SW)
- Highest point: Mount Elbrus (5,642 m)
- Maximum N->S distance: 167 kilometers (104 mi)
- Maximum E->W distance: 123 kilometers (76 mi)
Kabardino-Balkaria is traversed by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude.
Rivers
[edit]Major rivers include:
- Terek River (623 km)
- Malka River (216 km)
- Baksan River (173 km)
- Urukh River (104 km)
- Chegem River (102 km)
- Cherek River (76 km)
- Argudan River
- Kurkuzhin River
- Lesken River
Lakes
[edit]There are about 100 lakes in the Republic, none of which is large. Just over half (55) are located between the Baksan and Malka rivers. Some of the lakes are:
- Tserikkel Lake (area 26,000 m2; depth 368 m)
- Lower Goluboye Lake
- Kel-Ketchen Lake (depth 177 m)
- Upper Tserikkel Lake (depth 18 m)
- Sekretnoye Lake
- Tambukan Lake (area 1.77 km2; depth 1.5 to 2 m), partially within Stavropol Krai.
Mountains
[edit]- Mount Elbrus (5,642 m), a volcanic mountain and the highest peak in Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus
Other major mountains include:
- Mount Dykhtau (5,402 m)
- Mount Koshtantau (5,151 m)
- Mount Shkhara (5,068 m)
- Pushkin Peak (5,033 m)
- Mount Mizhergi (5,025 m)
Natural resources
[edit]![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2022) |
Kabardino-Balkaria's natural resources include molybdenum, tungsten, and coal.
Climate
[edit]The republic has a continental-type climate.
- Average January temperature: −12 °C (10 °F) (mountains) to −4 °C (25 °F) (plains)
- Average July temperature: +4 °C (39 °F) (mountains) to +23 °C (73 °F) (plains)
- Average annual precipitation: 500–2,000 mm.
History
[edit]![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2022) |
It is known that modern-day Circassians also called Kassogs were inhabiting Kabardino Balkaria since at least the 6th century BC, then known as Zichia.[14] On 1 July 1994 Kabardino-Balkaria became the second republic after Tatarstan to sign a power-sharing agreement with the federal government, granting it autonomy.[15]
Politics
[edit]The head of government in Kabardino-Balkaria is the Head. The current Head is Kazbek Kokov.[16] The legislative body of the Republic is the Parliament comprising 72 deputies elected for a five-year term.[9][17]
The republic adopted a new constitution in 2001 which prevents the republic from existing independently of the Russian Federation.[18]
Administrative divisions
[edit]- Cities and towns under republic's jurisdiction
- Nalchik (Нальчик) (capital)
- Baksan (Баксан)
- Prokhladny (Прохладный)
- Districts:
- Baksansky (Баксанский)
- Chegemsky (Чегемский)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Chegem (Чегем)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Chereksky (Черекский)
- Elbrussky (Эльбрусский)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Tyrnyauz (Тырныауз)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Leskensky (Лескенский)
- Maysky (Майский)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Maysky (Майский)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Prokhladnensky (Прохладненский)
- Tersky (Терский)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Terek (Терек)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Urvansky (Урванский)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Nartkala (Нарткала)
- Towns under the district's jurisdiction:
- Zolsky (Зольский)

-
Cherek-Balkarskaya gorge
-
Prielbrusye
-
Tyzyl Gorge
Demographics
[edit]Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1926 | 230,923 | — |
1959 | 420,115 | +81.9% |
1970 | 588,203 | +40.0% |
1979 | 674,605 | +14.7% |
1989 | 759,586 | +12.6% |
2002 | 901,494 | +18.7% |
2010 | 859,939 | −4.6% |
2021 | 904,200 | +5.1% |
2025 | 908,090 | +0.4% |
Source: Census data, estimate[19] |
Population: 904,200 (2021 Census);[13] 859,939 (2010 Census);[20] 901,494 (2002 Census);[21] 759,586 (1989 Soviet census).[22]

2019 | 2021 | |
---|---|---|
Average: | 76.5 years | 73.8 years |
Male: | 72.6 years | 69.9 years |
Female: | 79.9 years | 77.3 years |
Vital statistics
[edit]Average population (x 1000) | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Fertility rates | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1970 | 592 | 11,683 | 3,913 | 7,770 | 19.7 | 6.6 | 13.1 | |
1975 | 634 | 12,315 | 4,717 | 7,598 | 19.4 | 7.4 | 12.0 | |
1980 | 680 | 14,098 | 5,457 | 8,641 | 20.7 | 8.0 | 12.7 | |
1985 | 725 | 15,941 | 5,854 | 10,087 | 22.0 | 8.1 | 13.9 | |
1990 | 772 | 15,412 | 6,573 | 8,839 | 20.0 | 8.5 | 11.5 | 2.45 |
1991 | 788 | 14,952 | 6,995 | 7,957 | 19.0 | 8.9 | 10.1 | 2.35 |
1992 | 799 | 13,728 | 7,093 | 6,635 | 17.2 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 2.16 |
1993 | 807 | 11,781 | 7,864 | 3,917 | 14.6 | 9.7 | 4.9 | 1.86 |
1994 | 816 | 11,407 | 8,052 | 3,355 | 14.0 | 9.9 | 4.1 | 1.79 |
1995 | 828 | 10,844 | 8,236 | 2,608 | 13.1 | 9.9 | 3.2 | 1.67 |
1996 | 840 | 10,293 | 8,199 | 2,094 | 12.2 | 9.8 | 2.5 | 1.56 |
1997 | 853 | 10,016 | 7,985 | 2,031 | 11.7 | 9.4 | 2.4 | 1.47 |
1998 | 866 | 9,997 | 8,201 | 1,796 | 11.5 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 1.44 |
1999 | 875 | 9,221 | 8,292 | 929 | 10.5 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 1.30 |
2000 | 883 | 9,207 | 8,792 | 415 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 0.5 | 1.26 |
2001 | 891 | 8,892 | 8,778 | 114 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 0.1 | 1.19 |
2002 | 897 | 9,119 | 8,954 | 165 | 10.2 | 10.0 | 0.2 | 1.20 |
2003 | 896 | 9,294 | 9,202 | 92 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 0.1 | 1.20 |
2004 | 889 | 9,414 | 8,695 | 719 | 10.6 | 9.8 | 0.8 | 1.22 |
2005 | 882 | 8,991 | 9,034 | - 43 | 10.2 | 10.2 | -0.0 | 1.13 |
2006 | 875 | 9,308 | 8,764 | 544 | 10.6 | 10.0 | 0.6 | 1.16 |
2007 | 870 | 11,397 | 8,441 | 2,956 | 13.1 | 9.7 | 3.4 | 1.41 |
2008 | 866 | 12,052 | 8,095 | 3,957 | 13.9 | 9.3 | 4.6 | 1.49 |
2009 | 863 | 12,143 | 8,406 | 3,737 | 14.1 | 9.7 | 4.3 | 1.62 |
2010 | 860 | 12,576 | 8,080 | 4,496 | 14.6 | 9.4 | 5.2 | 1.66 |
2011 | 860 | 12,848 | 8,136 | 4,712 | 14.9 | 9.4 | 5.5 | 1.70 |
2012 | 859 | 13,786 | 7,709 | 6,077 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | 1.83 |
2013 | 859 | 13,365 | 7,712 | 5,653 | 15.6 | 9.0 | 6.6 | 1.80 |
2014 | 860 | 13,397 | 7,571 | 5,826 | 15.6 | 8.8 | 6.8 | 1.83 |
2015 | 861 | 12,627 | 7,582 | 5,045 | 14.6 | 8.8 | 5.8 | 1.75 |
2016 | 863 | 12,191 | 7,386 | 4,805 | 14.1 | 8.5 | 5.6 | 1.72 |
2017 | 865 | 11,092 | 7,391 | 3,701 | 12.8 | 8.5 | 4.3 | 1.61 |
2018 | 865 | 10,881 | 7,044 | 3,837 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 4.4 | 1.61 |
2019 | 866 | 9,973 | 7,142 | 2,831 | 11.5 | 8.2 | 3.3 | 1.51 |
2020 | 10,604 | 8,624 | 1,980 | 12.2 | 9.9 | 2.3 | 1.64 | |
2021 | 10,462 | 9,436 | 1,026 | 12.0 | 10.8 | 1.2 | 1.67 | |
2022 | 10,049 | 8,010 | 2,039 | 11.5 | 9.2 | 2.3 | 1.51 | |
2023 | 9,941 | 6,827 | 3,114 | 11.0 | 7.5 | 3.5 | 1.53 | |
2024 | 10,180 | 6,963 | 3,217 | 11.2 | 7.7 | 3.5 | 1.61 |
Note: TFR 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 source.[27]
Ethnic groups
[edit]Kabardino-Balkaria includes two major ethnic communities, the Kabardins (Circassians), who speak a North-West Caucasian language, and the Balkars who speak a Turkic language. According to the 2021 Census,[28] Kabardins make up 57.1% of the republic's population, followed by Russians (19.8%) and Balkars (13.7%). Other groups include Cherkess (3.0%), Turks (1.9%), Ossetians (0.8%), Romani (0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.
Ethnic group |
1926 Census1 | 1939 Census | 1959 Census | 1970 Census | 1979 Census | 1989 Census | 2002 Census | 2010 Census | 2021 Census3 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | |
Kabardin | 122,237 | 54.2% | 152,237 | 42.4% | 190,284 | 45.3% | 264,675 | 45.0% | 303,604 | 45.5% | 364,494 | 48.2% | 498,7022 | 55.3% | 490,453 | 57.2% | 502,615 | 57.1% |
Balkars | 33,197 | 14.7% | 40,747 | 11.3% | 34,088 | 8.1% | 51,356 | 8.7% | 59,710 | 9.0% | 70,793 | 9.4% | 104,951 | 11.6% | 108,577 | 12.7% | 120,898 | 13.7% |
Russians | 32,622 | 14.5% | 129,067 | 35.9% | 162,586 | 38.7% | 218,595 | 37.2% | 234,137 | 35.1% | 240,750 | 31.9% | 226,620 | 25.1% | 193,155 | 22.5% | 174,768 | 19.8% |
Ossetians | 3,839 | 1.7% | 4,608 | 1.3% | 6,442 | 1.5% | 9,167 | 1.6% | 9,710 | 1.5% | 9,996 | 1.3% | 9,845 | 1.1% | 9,129 | 1.1% | 6,877 | 0.8% |
Ukrainians | 24,723 | 11.0% | 11,142 | 3.1% | 8,400 | 2.0% | 10,620 | 1.8% | 12,139 | 1.8% | 12,826 | 1.7% | 7,592 | 0.8% | 4,800 | 0.6% | 1,461 | 0.2% |
Cherkess | 8,803 | 3.9% | 21,328 | 5.9% | 18,315 | 4.4% | 33,790 | 5.7% | 47,246 | 7.1% | 614 | 0.1% | 725 | 0.1% | 2,475 | 0.3% | 26,544 | 3.0% |
Others | 55,058 | 7.3% | 53,059 | 5.9% | 49,081 | 5.7% | 47,748 | 5.7% | ||||||||||
1 The results of the 1926 census refer to the present territory, which is a combination of the Kabardo-Balkarian AO and a part of the Terek district. The latter area was mainly inhabited by Russians and Ukrainians.[29]
2 In view of the results of the 1989 census and the 2010 census, the number of Kabardins in 2002 seems unlikely high. |
-
Mosque in Kabardino-Balkaria
-
Catholic church in Kabardino-Balkaria (Diocese of Saratov, Blagoveshchenka)
-
Balkars in 1936
-
Kabardian wrestler Beslan Mudranov won Russia's first gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics
Religion
[edit]According to a 2012 survey which interviewed 56,900 people,[31] 70.8% of the population of Kabardino-Balkaria adhered to Islam, 11.6% to the Russian Orthodox Church, 3.8% were non-Orthodox Christians, and 1.8% followed Adyghe (Kabardian) folk religion and other indigenous faiths. In addition, 12% of the population declared to be "spiritual but not religious" and 5.6% was atheist or followed other religions, including Jehovah's Witnesses.[31]
See also
[edit]- Caucasian Avars
- Bulgars
- List of chairmen of the Parliament of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic
- Minor hydro-electric plants of Kabardino-Balkaria
- Mount Imeon
Notes
[edit]- ^ Russian: Кабарди́но-Балка́рская Респу́блика, romanized: Kabardino-Balkarskaya Respublika; Kabardian: Къэбэрдей-Балъкъэр Республикэ, romanized: Ķêbêrdej-Baĺķêr Respublikê; Karachay-Balkar: Къабарты-Малкъар Республика, romanized: Qabartı-Malqar Respublika
References
[edit]- ^ Law #13-RZ
- ^ Constitution of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Article 78
- ^ Official website of the Head of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Biography Archived 28 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- ^ "Оценка численности постоянного населения по субъектам Российской Федерации". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
- ^ "Об исчислении времени". Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
- ^ Constitution of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Article 136
- ^ a b Constitution of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Article 76
- ^ Official throughout the Russian Federation according to Article 68.1 of the Constitution of Russia.
- ^ a b Constitution of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Article 91
- ^ "Head of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic reported to the President on the situation in Mount Elbrus region". President of Russia. 2 September 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ "Russia's federal constituent entities". Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
- ^ Skutsch, Carl (7 November 2013). Encyclopedia of the World's Minorities. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-19388-1.
- ^ a b Russian Federal State Statistics Service. Всероссийская перепись населения 2020 года. Том 1 [2020 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1] (XLS) (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service.
- ^ Kazhdan, A. P.; Talbot, A-M. M.; Cutler, A.; Gregory, T. E.; Ševčenko, N. P., eds. (1991). The Oxford dictionary of Byzantium. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8. OCLC 22733550.
- ^ Solnick, Steven (29 May 1996). "Asymmetries in Russian Federation Bargaining" (PDF). The National Council for Soviet and East European Research: 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ^ Путин опять увольняет губернаторов, а на их место назначает однофамильцев или бывших губернаторов. А-а-а! Как не запутаться? Вот шпаргалка. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Constitution, Article 94.
- ^ Bell 2003, p. 78.
- ^ "Предварительная оценка численности постоянного населения на 1 января 2025 года". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ^ Russian Federal State Statistics Service (2011). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года. Том 1 [2010 All-Russian Population Census, vol. 1]. Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года [2010 All-Russia Population Census] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service.
- ^ Federal State Statistics Service (21 May 2004). Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек [Population of Russia, Its Federal Districts, Federal Subjects, Districts, Urban Localities, Rural Localities—Administrative Centers, and Rural Localities with Population of Over 3,000] (XLS). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года [All-Russia Population Census of 2002] (in Russian).
- ^ Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров [All Union Population Census of 1989: Present Population of Union and Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Oblasts and Okrugs, Krais, Oblasts, Districts, Urban Settlements, and Villages Serving as District Administrative Centers]. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года [All-Union Population Census of 1989] (in Russian). Институт демографии Национального исследовательского университета: Высшая школа экономики [Institute of Demography at the National Research University: Higher School of Economics]. 1989 – via Demoscope Weekly.
- ^ "Демографический ежегодник России" [The Demographic Yearbook of Russia] (in Russian). Federal State Statistics Service of Russia (Rosstat). Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Ожидаемая продолжительность жизни при рождении" [Life expectancy at birth]. Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System of Russia (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ Russian Federal State Statistics Service Archived 12 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Официальные статистические показатели" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "Каталог публикаций::Федеральная служба государственной статистики". Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
- ^ "Национальный состав населения". Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "население кабардино-балкарии".
- ^ "ВПН-2010". Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ a b c "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia". Sreda, 2012.
- ^ 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27 August 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2017. Archived.
Sources
[edit]- Bell, Imogen (2003). The Territories of the Russian Federation 2003. Europa Publications. ISBN 1-85743-191-X.
- Совет Республики Парламента Кабардино-Балкарской Республики. Закон №13-РЗ от 4 августа 1994 г. «О государственном гимне Кабардино-Балкарской Республики», в ред. Закона №13-РЗ от 13 апреля 2015 г «О внесении изменений в статьи 2 и 4 Закона Кабардино-Балкарской Республики "О государственном гимне Кабардино-Балкарской Республики"». Вступил в силу 18 августа 1994 г. Опубликован: "Кабардино-Балкарская правда", №148, 12 августа 1994 г. (Council of the Republic of the Parliament of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Law #13-RZ of 4 August 1994 On the State Anthem of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, as amended by the Law #13-RZ of 13 April 2015 On Amending Articles 2 and 4 of the Law of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic "On the State Anthem of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic". Effective as of 18 August 1994.).
- Парламент Кабардино-Балкарской Республики. №28-РЗ 1 сентября 1997 г. «Конституция Кабардино-Балкарской Республики», в ред. Закона №40-РЗ от 19 октября 2015 г. «О поправках к Конституции Кабардино-Балкарской Республики». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Кабардино-Балкарская правда", №177, 9 сентября 1997 г. (Parliament of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. #28-RZ September 1, 1997 Constitution of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, as amended by the Law #40-RZ of October 19, 2015 On the Amendments to the Constitution of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. Effective as of the day of the official publication.).
- Дударев, В. А.; Евсеева, Н. А. (1987). И. Каманина (ed.). СССР. Административно-территориальное деление союзных республик (in Russian). Moscow.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)