The Tatar world in numbers
- Feb 9
- 3 min read
š¦ Taxes from Tatarstan to the federal center
Taxes collected (2023): 1.3 trillion rubles
Went to the federal budget: ~798 billion ā½ (~61%)
Remaining in the republic: ~502 billion ā½ (~39%)
For comparison (2018ā2019): ~65% of taxes went to the center
Source: Business Online, 2024
š„ Number of Tatars (census 2021)
All of Russia: 4,713,669
In 2010 there were: 5,310,649
š» Minus: -596,980 people (-11.3%)
Tatarstan: 2,091,000 (+3.9%)
Bashkortostan: ~970,000
Source: Rosstat - 2021 Census
š£ Proficiency in Tatar
Tatar language speaking population (2021): 3,260,000
In 2010: 4,280,000
š» Minus: -1,020,000 people (-23.8%)
Called native: 4,070,000
The share of Tatars who own the language: ~69%
Regularly used: ~62%
š Comparison table for the 2002, 2010, and 2021 censuses
Indicator | Region | 2002 | 2010 | 2021 |
Ethnic Tatars, people | Tatarstan | 2,000,116 | 2,012,571 | 2,091,175 |
Bashkortostan | 990,702 | 1,009,295 | 974,533 | |
Russia as a whole | 5,554,601 | 5,310,649 | 4,713,669 | |
Tatar speakers | Tatarstan | ~2,000,000 | ~2,010,000 | ~1,600,000 |
Bashkortostan | ~990,000 | ~1,060,000 | ~950,000 | |
Russia as a whole | ~4,880,000 | ~4,280,718 | ~3,261,000 |
Sources: Rosstat 2002 | Rosstat 2010 | Rosstat 2021 (national composition) | Language proficiency 2021
š« Tatar schools and students
Schools with instruction in Tatar (2024): 591
Students: ~82,000
Of these, in Tatar: ~57,800
Total number of schools in Tatarstan: 1,373
ā Tatars make up ~43%
š Unified State Exam in Tatar
USE 2025: 34 people
Unified State Exam 2023: 7
Unified State Exam 2022: 1
š Books in Tatar
2022: 307 books
2021: 257
š¼ Height: +50
ā Tatar is No. 1 among the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation
Source: Russian Book Chamber - Statistics 2022
š Sabantuy
Outside Tatarstan (2024): >400
Countries: 35
Total (including villages): ā4,000
āļø Criminal War Against Ukraine: Participation and Losses
Participation:
From 2022 to March 2025: 38,169 people
2023 (estimate): ~45,000
Losses:
Deaths (October 2025): 6,265
Of these, prisoners: 589
ā 2nd place in Russia for losses
Sources: Idel.Realii ā Tatarstan's Losses ; RBC ā Minnikhanov on the Number of SVO Participants
Ochpochmak Index: Price Dynamics 2018ā2024
Methodology and meaning of the index
The "Ochpochmak Index" is conceived in analogy to the well-known Big Mac Index : it tracks the price of the same food product (in this case, the traditional Tatar patty , ochpochmak ) over several years to assess changes in its cost and, indirectly, the population's purchasing power. Ochpochmak (a Tatar national dish) is a small triangular pastry made of wheat dough (usually yeast dough with sour cream and egg) with a filling of minced meat, potatoes, and onions. Beef is most often used for the filling (less commonly, duck or horse meat). Since ochpochmak includes the basic ingredients of Tatar cuisine (flour, meat, potatoes, onions, and eggs), its price reflects the costs of these ingredients and the cost of catering . Changes in price over time can serve as an indicator of food inflation and the affordability of this traditional dish for consumers.
Ochpochmak price dynamics in Kazan (2018ā2024)
Below are data on the average price of one ochpochmak in Kazan from 2018 to 2024 at popular local establishmentsāthe Tyubetey Tatar fast-food chain and the Bakhetle culinary supermarket chain. This retrospective utilizes open sources: archived reviews, media publications, menus on official websites, and saved copies of pages via Web Archive. Prices are listed in Russian rubles per piece , with the establishment's note and a link to the source. Where multiple fillings are available, the classic beef version is used (unless otherwise noted).
Year | Price of Tubetey (ā½) | Price of Bakhetle (ā½) |
2018 | ~45 | ~53 |
2019 | ~50 | ~55 |
2020 | ~60ā70 | ~70 |
2021 | ~80ā90 | ~80 |
2022 | ~100 | ~90 |
2023 | 119 | ~95 |
2024 | 129 | ~99ā110 |
