New
New
Year 9

Rural Russia and Indigenous peoples

I can describe the inequality between rural and urban areas of Russia and the challenges Indigenous peoples face.

New
New
Year 9

Rural Russia and Indigenous peoples

I can describe the inequality between rural and urban areas of Russia and the challenges Indigenous peoples face.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Over 70% of Russia is considered to be rural. It is home to 25% of the population.
  2. Inequality in Russia is most marked between rural and urban areas. Average rural incomes are 57% lower than urban.
  3. Inequality leads to a number of differences such as higher rates of poverty and poorer infrastructure and services.
  4. Russia officially recognises 40 Indigenous peoples. They make up 0.2% of the population yet inhabit 65% of Russia.
  5. Challenges for Indigenous Peoples include: loss of land, access to services, population decline and cultural erosion.

Keywords

  • Indigenous peoples - those descended from the original inhabitants of a country or region, living in culturally distinct communities

  • Inequality - the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities and living conditions

  • Tradition - something that has been done the same way for a long time, over generations

Common misconception

Pupils can make sweeping statements about people and places.

It is important to challenge stereotypical views about places and people that live in them. Whilst average living standards in rural Russia are lower than in urban areas, not everyone, nor everywhere, is the same.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Rural Russia and Indigenous peoples, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The Gini coefficient is a measure of inequality. There are a number of world maps which can be used to show how inequality varies globally.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.

Correct Answer:permafrost,frozen ground that remains solid for 2+ years

frozen ground that remains solid for 2+ years

Correct Answer:sparsely populated,an area with few people living in it

an area with few people living in it

Correct Answer:infrastructure,roads, railways and services that support a country

roads, railways and services that support a country

Q2.
Which of the following best explains why western Russia has a higher population?

It is colder than the east.
Correct answer: It has a milder climate and better infrastructure.
It is mostly mountainous.
It is further from Europe.

Q3.
Which physical feature makes eastern Russia difficult to live in?

large lakes
sandy soil
Correct answer: harsh climate and permafrost
frequent earthquakes

Q4.
What natural feature allows Russia to export energy to other countries?

Correct answer: large reserves of oil and gas
volcanoes
warm ocean currents
fertile farmland

Q5.
Why does Russia have time zones that stretch across the country?

Each region speaks a different language.
Correct answer: Russia is the widest country in the world.
Most people live in the east.
to save energy

Q6.
Which of these best describes Russia’s climate overall?

Correct answer: cold with long winters
tropical with heavy rain
mild with dry summers
hot and dry all year

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.

Correct Answer:Indigenous people,people descended from original inhabitants

people descended from original inhabitants

Correct Answer:inequality,uneven access to resources or opportunities

uneven access to resources or opportunities

Correct Answer:tradition,long-standing practice passed down generations

long-standing practice passed down generations

Q2.
What percentage of Russia’s population lives in rural areas?

10%
Correct answer: 25%
50%
70%

Q3.
What makes life harder in many rural areas of Russia?

Correct answer: poor infrastructure and services
too many airports
high rainfall all year
lack of natural resources

Q4.
A student says, “Everyone in rural Russia lives in poverty.” What would be a better response?

That’s true everywhere in Russia.
Everyone in cities is rich.
Correct answer: Not all rural areas or people are the same – averages hide differences.
Indigenous groups all live in Moscow.