Central Black Earth
Population: 7,872,000. Biggest city: Voronezh (978,000)
Flying time from Moscow to Voronezh: under 1 hour.
Time difference from Moscow: none.
Urban population: 62 %. Rural population: 38%.
Territory: 167,700 square km (about half the size of Germany). 47 persons / sq. km.
Climate zones: Steppes and deciduous forests.
Socio-economic indicators (1999 Duma Vote). The black earth region is predominantly rural, and the chronic difficulties of Soviet, now Russian agriculture, are specially evident here. Income levels are well below the Russian average, and so too is GDP per capita. There are relatively few students in higher education. Fewer people are prepared to move to find a job elsewhere. People in the Central Black Earth are less likely than average to feel that life is bearable.
State employment is high and employment in the new private sector is only half the Russian average. The region suffers too from a rapid decline in population.
Administrative Divisions
| Voronezh Oblast (Pop.
2,495,400) Capital: Voronezh (978,000) |
Tambov Oblast (Pop.
1,301,200) Capital: Tambov (338,000) |
| Belgorod Oblast (Pop.
1,477,500) Capital: Belgorod (318,000) |
Lipetsk Oblast (Pop.
1,247,700) Capital: Lipetsk (511,000) |
| Kursk Oblast (Pop.
1,341,300) Capital: Kursk (439,000) |