Moscow had 13,010,112 residents in Russia’s 2021 census.
Moscow is Russia’s capital and largest city, situated on the Moskva River in the country’s European core. The 2021 figure refers to the population within Moscow’s official city boundaries, not its much larger urban or metropolitan area.
The census recorded substantial growth from 11,503,501 residents in 2010. That increase reflects natural change, migration, and Moscow’s role as Russia’s dominant political, financial, cultural, and transport center. Its administrative territory also includes extensive outer districts incorporated during the city’s 2012 expansion.
A common mix-up is confusing Moscow proper with the wider urban area. The urban area has roughly 19 million people, while the metropolitan region exceeds 21 million. Saint Petersburg is Russia’s second-largest city, but its population is well below Moscow’s census total.