The publication «Project» analyzed Rosstat data on the number of Russians leaving the country and proved that their number is significantly underestimated by official statistics. The study was based on official data on Russians who permanently moved abroad, and compared it with Rosstat data.
According to Rosstat’s latest report from 2017, 377,000 people left Russia in one year. Even according to these figures, this is three times more than the number of people who left in 2012. In total, 1.7 million Russians left the country during the third term of the «great national leader who lifted the country up and made the whole world take notice». But the reality is much worse.
The study of «Project» shows how the data of Rosstat correspond to the data of the countries to which Russians emigrate. For example, according to Rosstat, 4,694 Russians moved to Germany, while according to official German data it was 24,983. Similar discrepancies exist for other countries: nine times for the United States, twelve times for the Czech Republic, and fourteen times for Hungary. The average difference across the 24 countries analyzed in the study was 600%.
Accordingly, according to open source data, 10.6 million people, or 7% of Russia’s population, left the country in 2017. Even if part of this number includes those who only intend to establish a backup base by obtaining long-term visas abroad, it is still a clear indicator of their plans and intentions. According to this data, Russia ranks third in the world in terms of the number of migrants leaving the country, after India and Mexico.
The majority of those leaving Russia are of working age, with an average age of 34. The number of highly educated people among them increased fourfold in 2017. There is a lot that could be said about this — vividly and colorfully. However, it seems that comments are unnecessary in this case…
The only thing we would like to add in this regard is that the Muslim emigration from Russia (referring to Muslim citizens of Russia) remains unaccounted for. One reason for this is that Muslims go primarily to countries that have visa-free regimes for Russians and prefer not to officially register their permanent relocation. In short, there is a mass exodus of Russians — both Muslims and ordinary individuals who see no future in Putin’s Russia.