West Siberia

Population: 15,108,000. Biggest city: Novosibirsk (1,450,000)
Flying time from Moscow to Novosibirsk (the biggest city): 4 hours.
Time difference from Moscow: + 3-4 hours.
Urban population: 71%. Rural population: 29%.
Area: 2,427,200 sq. km (about quarter the size of USA).  Density: 6.2 persons / sq. km.
Climate zones: Ranging from mixed forests and steppes in the far south to tundra and arctic deserts in the far north.

Socio-economic indicators (1999 Duma Vote)         The official economic statistics give a positive profile to this region. Not only is GDP in total high due to its substantial total population, but also reported GDP per capita is almost half again the Russian mean, as is industrial productivity. In keeping with this, wage levels are a third above the national average.  However, the likelihood of getting paid in full is 14 percent below the national level.  The region's economy is, moreover, relatively low in privatized ex-state enterprises, and only average in new private sector employment.

West Siberia	Regional value	Russian mean	% Russian mean
ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS
GDP 1995 bln rbls	217,667	127,531	171
GDP/capita rbls, million	14	10	151
Industrial productivity mln rbls/employee	97	66	147
Wage levels 1000 rbls/month, 1995	639	472	135
Current household economy not bad: %	43	45	96
Consumer goods: % with VCR	31	34	91
Wages paid in full in previous month, %	42	49	86
Current national economy not bad: %	8	19	42
LABOUR MARKET CHANGE
Prepared to move to find a job: %	29	17	171
Employed, % labour force	92	91	101
Employer: new private, %	23	23	100
Job is secure, %	45	50	90
Have second job previous month: %	17	19	89
Employment sector: services, %	43	49	88
SOCIAL COHESION  AND STABILITY
Students in higher education per 10,000	181	179	101
Life expectancy in years (male)	58	58	100
Life expectancy in years (female)	71	72	99
Hospital beds per 10,000	124	126	98
Life is bearable, %	47	52	91
Read newspapers regularly: %	60	67	90
Population change, %	-.4	-.6	--
Expect life to improve next year: %	15	21	71

Administrative divisions:

Tyumen Oblast (Pop. 3,177,100) Capital: Tyumen (545,000)	Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (within Tyumen Oblast: Pop. 1,326,000) Capital: Khanty-Mansiysk (34,000)
Kemerovo Oblast (Pop. 3,042,200) Capital: Kemerovo (552,000)	Tomsk Oblast (Pop. 1,071,800) Capital: Tomsk
Novosibirsk Oblast (Pop. 2,744,600) Capital: Novosibirsk (1,450,000)	Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (within Tyumen Oblast: Pop. 480,000) Capital: Salekhard (29,000)
Altai Krai (Pop. 2,675,200) Capital: Barnaul (658,000)	Gorno-Altai Republic (Pop. 202,100) Capital: Gorno-Altaysk (47,000)
Omsk Oblast (Pop. 2,174,200) Capital: Omsk (1,190,000)