1926 Soviet census

The 1926 Soviet census (Russian: Всесоюзная перепись населения, All-Union census), conducted in December 1926, was the first comprehensive all-Union census in the Soviet Union. It served as a critical instrument in the nation-building efforts of the USSR, furnishing the government with vital ethnographic data. This census played a significant role in the societal shift from the Imperial Russian era to the Soviet period. The methodologies employed by ethnographers in defining individual ethnicity (narodnost), particularly in creating the "List of Ethnicities of the USSR" and delineating borders in ethnically mixed regions, profoundly shaped Soviet policies.^[1] Ethnographers, statisticians, and linguists not only designed questionnaires and ethnicity lists but also aimed to actively reshape identities according to Marxism–Leninism. As Anastas Mikoyan stated, the Soviet Union was engaged in "creating and organising new nations".^[2]

Promotional poster to the 1926 Census

Previous Censuses

Prior to the 1926 all-Union census, the Bolsheviks had conducted two partial censuses after their rise to power in Russia. The first, the general census of 1920, occurred amidst the Civil War and the Soviet-Polish War. Consequently, it could not cover the Crimea, substantial parts of Transcaucasia, the Ukraine, the Byelorussia, as well as Far Eastern, Siberian, Central Asian, and Far Northern territories. Notably, there was a population increase of only 15,000,000 between 1920 and 1926, reaching approximately 131,304,931 people according to TIME magazine, a figure still not widely disclosed in Russian historical accounts.^[3] The 1923 Census was limited to urban areas. Before the Russian Revolution, the sole Russian Empire Census was conducted in 1897.

Methodology

The census classified the population by narodnosti (nationalities), a departure from categories like tribe or clan. This classification, combined with policies that allocated land, resources, and rights to these defined nations, led to interference in data collection by experts and local elites.^[4]

Delegations from the Georgian SSR and Ukrainian SSR raised concerns about the census's formulation of narodnosti. The Georgian delegation advocated for classifying the population by natsionalʹnosti, believing it more appropriate for developed nations like Georgians. Ukrainian representatives favored using native language as the basis for classification instead of nationality. However, these objections did not result in changes to the methodology.^[5]

Responses regarding nationality were sometimes altered by census takers or later by state analysts to ensure "correctness." It was believed that individuals might "confuse" nationality with other categories such as place of residence, native language, or clan.^[6]

Census Results

Composition of the USSR

The following table provides an overview of the population and territory of the Soviet Republics in 1926:

No.	Soviet Republic	Territory (km²)	Population	Urban Population	Male Population	Ethnic Russians	Ethnic Ukrainians	Titular Ethnicity
1	RSFSR	19 651 446	100 891 244	17 442 655	48 170 635	74 072 096	7 873 331
2	UkSSR	451 584	29 018 187	5 373 553	14 094 592	2 677 166	23 218 860
3	BSSR	126 792	4 983 240	847 830	2 439 801	383 806	34 681	4 017 301
4	Transcaucasian SFSR	185 191	5 861 529	1 410 876	3 009 046	336 178	35 423	1 797 960
5	Uzbek SSR	311 476	5 272 801	1 102 218	2 797 420	246 521	25 804	3 475 340
6	Turkmen SSR	449 698	1 000 914	136 982	531 858	75 357	6877	719 792
	Total	21 176 187	147 027 915	26 314 114	71 043 352	77 791 124	31 194 976

For the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, Georgians were considered the Titular Nationality.

Population of the USSR by Republics

•  Russian SFSR – 100,891,244 (urban 17,442,655)
  • Kazakh ASSR – 6,503,006 (urban 539,249)
  • Kirghiz ASSR – 993,004 (urban 121,080)
•  Ukrainian SSR – 29,018,187 (urban 5,373,553)
  • Moldavian ASSR – 572,114
•  Uzbek SSR – 5,272,801 (urban 1,102,218)
  • Tajik ASSR – 827,200
•  Byelorussian SSR – 4,983,240 (urban 847,830)
•  Transcaucasian SFSR
  •  Georgian SSR – 2,666,494 (urban 594,221)
  •  Azerbaijan SSR – 2,314,571 (urban 649,557)
  •  Armenian SSR – 880,464 (urban 167,098)
•  Turkmen SSR – 1,000,914 (urban 136,982)
• Total in the Soviet Union – 147,027,915 (urban 26,314,114)

Population of the USSR Sorted by Most Common Nationalities in 1926

	USSR	RSFSR	Ukrainian SSR	Byelorussian SSR	TSFSR	Uzbek SSR	Turkmen SSR
Total	147,027,915	100,623,000	29,018,187	4,983,240	5,861,529	5,272,801	1,000,914
Russians	77,791,124	74,072,000	2,677,166	383,806	336,178	246,521	75,357
Ukrainians	31,194,976	7,873,000	23,218,860	34,681	35,423	25,804	6,877
Belorussians	4,738,923	638,000	75,842	4,017,031	3,767	3,515	864
Georgians	1,821,184	21,000	1,265	52	1,797,960	697	258
Armenians	1,567,568	195,000	10,631	99	1,332,593	14,976	13,859
Turks	1,706,605	28,000	56	0	1,652,768	21,565	4,229
Uzbeks	3,904,622	325,000	23	0	72	3,475,340	104,971
Turkmen	763,940	18,000	21	1	102	25,954	719,792
Kazakhs	3,968,289	3,852,000	98	18	61	106,980	9,471
Kirghiz	762,736	672,000	36	1	10	90,743	0
Tatars	2,916,536	2,846,734	22,281	3,777	10,574	28,401	4,769
Chuvash	1,117,419	1,114,813	905	739	92	315	555
Bashkirs	713,693	712,000	114	8	14	765	426
Yakuts	240,709	240,687	14	1	0	3	4
Karakalpaks	146,317	118,217	0	0	0	26,563	1,537
Tajiks	978,680	10,385	0	0	1	967,728	566
Ossetians	272,272	157,000	184	18	114,450	234	38
Talysh	77,323	0	0	0	77,323	0	0
Tats	28,705	223	35	0	28,443	0	4
Kurds	69,184	14,701	1	0	52,173	1	2,308
Mordva	1,340,415	1,334,700	1,171	1,051	1,238	1,805	491
Mari	428,192	428,000	122	18	14	19	18
Karelians	248,120	248,030	60	19	7	1	3
Udmurts	514,187	514,000	91	45	6	19	8
Komi	226,383	226,300	42	21	18	5	5
Permyaks	149,488	149,400	36	3	1	0	0
Buryats	237,501	237,000	3	1	2	0	1
Kalmyks	132,114	131,757	92	1	8	18	2
Germans	1,238,549	806,301	393,924	7,075	25,327	4,646	1,276
Jews	2,599,973	566,917	1,574,391	407,059	31,175	19,611	1,820
Poles	782,334	197,827	476,435	97,498	6,324	3,411	839
Greeks	213,765	50,649	104,666	55	57,935	347	113
Vainakhs	392,600	390,000	51	7	84	5	2
Moldavians	278,903	20,525	257,794	63	316	173	24
Bulgarians	111,296	18,644	92,078	22	203	321	28
Latvians	151,410	126,277	9,131	14,061	951	737	232
Lithuanians	41,463	26,856	6,795	6,853	572	311	65
Abkhazians	56,957	98	8	0	56,851	0	0

List of Ethnicities

This list, officially titled Programmy i posobiya po razrabotke Vsesoyuznoy perepisi naseleniya 1926 goda, vol. 7, Perechen i slovar narodnostey, Moscow 1927, was compiled by the Central Statistical Administration of the USSR in preparation for the census.^[7]

1. Russian – 77 791 124
2. Ukrainian – 31 194 976
3. Belarusian – 4 738 923
4. Polish – 782 334
5. Czech
6. Slovak
7. Serb
8. Bulgarian – 111 296
9. Latvian – 151 410
10. Lithuanian – 41 463
11. Latgalian
12. Samogitian (Zhmud)
13. German – 1 238 549
14. British
15. Swedish
16. Dutch
17. Italian
18. French
19. Romanian – 278 903
20. Moldavians – 278 903
21. Greek – 213 765
22. Albanian (Arnaut)
23. Jewish (Ashkenazi) – 2,599,973^[8]
24. Crimean Jewish – 6,383
25. Mountain Jewish (Dag Chufut) – 25,974
26. Georgian Jewish – 21,471
27. Bukharan Jewish (Dzhugur) – 18,698
28. Karaim – 8,324
29. Finnish
30. Leningrad Finnish (Chukhontsy)
31. Karelian
32. Tavastian
33. Estonian – 154 666
34. Vepsian (Chud)
35. Vod (Vote)
36. Izhorian (Ingrian)
37. Kven
38. Lopars (Sami people)
39. Zyrian
40. Permyak
41. Udmurt (Votiak)
42. Besermyan
43. Mari (Cheremis)
44. Mordva (Moksha, Erzya, Teryukhan, Karatai)
45. Magyar (Hungarian)
46. Gagauz
47. Chuvash – 1 117 419
48. Tatar – 2 916 536
49. Mishar (Meshcheriak)
50. Bashkir – 713 693
51. Nagaybak
52. Nogai
53. Gypsy
54. Kalmyk
55. Mongol
56. Buryat
57. Sart-Kalmyk
58. Mansi (Vogul)
59. Khanty (Ostyak)
60. Selkup (Ostyak-Samoyed)
61. Nenets (Samoyed)
62. Yurak
63. Soyot (Uriankhai)
64. Barabin (Barbara Tartar)
65. Bukharan (Bukharlyk)
66. Chernevyy Tatar (Tubalar, Tuba-Kizhi)
67. Altai (Altai-Kizhi, Mountain or White Kalmyk)
68. Teleut
69. Telengit (Telengut)
70. Kumandin (Lebedin, Ku-Kohzi)
71. Shors
72. Kharagas (Tuba, Kharagaz)
73. Kızıl (Kyzyl)
74. Kachin
75. Sagai
76. Koybal
77. Beltir
78. Dolgan (Dolgan-Iakut)
79. Yakut (Sakha, Urangkhai-Sakha) – 240 709
80. Tungus (Ovenk, Murchen)
81. Lamut
82. Orochon
83. Golds (Nanai people)
84. Olchi (Mangun, Ulchi)
85. Negidal (Negda, Eleke Beye)
86. Orochi
87. Udegei (Ude)
88. Orok
89. Manegir - 59 persons. A former division of Evenks. They lived along the Kumara River, hence an alternative designation, "Kumarchen" ^[9]
90. Samogir (Самогиры), Nanai people Tungusic people^[10]
91. Manchurian
92. Chukchi
93. Koryaks
94. Kamchadal (Itel'men)
95. Gilyak (Nivkhi)
96. Yukagir
97. Chuvan
98. Aleut
99. Eskimo
100. Enisei (Ket, Enisei Ostiak)
101. Aino (Ainu, Kuchi)
102. Chinese
103. Korean
104. Japanese
105. Georgian (Kartvelian) – 1 821 184
106. Ajar
107. Megeli (Mingrelian)
108. Laz (Chan)
109. Svan (Svanetian)
110. Abkhaz (Abkhazian) – 56 957
111. Cherkess (Adyghe)
112. Beskesek-Abaza (Abazin)
113. Kabard
114. Ubykh
115. Chechen (Nakh, Nakhchuo)
116. Ingush (Galgai, Kist)
117. Batsbi (Tsova-Tish, Batswa)
118. Maistvei (Майствеи), combined into Chechen people^[11]
119. Lezgin
120. Tabasaran
121. Agul
122. Archi
123. Rutul (Mykhad)
124. Tsakhur
125. Khinalug
126. Dzhek (Dzhektsy)
127. Khaput (Gaputlin, Khaputlin)
128. Kryz
129. Budukh (Budug)
130. Udin
131. Dargin
132. Kubachin (Ughbug)
133. Lak (Kazi-Kumukh)
134. Avar (Avartsy, Khunzal)
135. Andi (Andiitsy, Kwanally)
136. Botlog (Buikhatli)
137. Godoberi
138. Karatai
139. Akhvakh
140. Bagulal (Kvanandin)
141. Chamalal
142. Tindi (Tindal, Idera)
143. Didoi (Tsez)
144. Kvarshi
145. Kapuchin (Bezheta)
146. Khunzal (Enzebi, Nakhad)
147. Armenian – 1 567 568
148. Hemshin
149. Arab
150. Aisor (Assyrian)
151. Kaytak (Karakaitak)
152. Bosha (Karachi, Armenian Gypsy)
153. Ossetian – 272 272
154. Kurd
155. Yazid
156. Talysh
157. Tat
158. Persian
159. Karachai
160. Kumyk
161. Balkar (Mountain Tartar, Malkar)
162. Karakalpak
163. Turk
164. Ottoman Turk (Osmanli)
165. Samarkand and Fergana Turk
166. Turkmen – 763 940
167. Kirgiz (Kyrgyz, Kara-Kirgiz)
168. Karakalpak – 146 317
169. Kypchak
170. Kashgar
171. Taranchi
172. Kazakh (Kirgiz-Kazakh, Kirgiz-Kaisak) – 3 968 289
173. Kurama
174. Uzbek – 3 904 622
175. Dungan
176. Afghan
177. Tajik – 978 680
178. Vakhan
179. Ishkashimi people [ru]
180. Shugnan
181. Yagnob
182. Yazgul
183. Iranian
184. Jemshid
185. Beludji
186. Berber
187. Khazara (Hazaras)
188. Hindu (Indian)
189. Other Ethnicities
190. Ethnicities not noted or noted inexactly

a) Tavlin

b) Kryashen

c) Teptyar

d) Uigar

e) Oirot

f) Khakass

g) Others

191. Foreign subjects

Administrative Divisions of Ukraine (1925–1932)

The census data for Soviet Ukraine was aggregated for several okruhas into larger subdivisions known as pidraion or podraion (Russian: подрайон, romanized: podraion; Ukrainian: підрайон, romanized: pidraion). There were six such subdivisions.

Subdistricts (Pidraions)

• Polissia Subdistrict^[12] (Poliskyi pidraion)
  • Chernihiv Okruha
  • Hlukhiv Okruha
  • Konotop Okruha
  • Korosten Okruha
  • Volyn Okruha
• Right-bank Subdistrict^[13] (Pravoberezhnyi pidraion)
  • Bila Tserkva Okruha
  • Berdychiv Okruha
  • Kamianets Okruha
  • Kyiv Okruha
  • Mohyliv Okruha
  • Proskuriv Okruha
  • Tulchyn Okruha
  • Uman Okruha
  • Shevchenko Okruha
  • Shepetivka Okruha
  • Vinnytsia Okruha
• Left-bank Subdistrict^[13] (Livoberezhnyi pidraion)
  • Izyum Okruha
  • Kharkiv Okruha
  • Kremenchuk Okruha
  • Kupiansk Okruha
  • Lubny Okruha
  • Nizhyn Okruha
  • Poltava Okruha
  • Pryluky Okruha
  • Romny Okruha
  • Sumy Okruha
• Steppe Subdistrict^[14] (Stepovyi pidraion)
  • Zinovievsk Okruha
  • Mariupol Okruha
  • Melitopol Okruha
  • Mykolaiv Okruha
  • Odesa Okruha
  • Pervomaisk Okruha
  • Starobilsk Okruha (oscillated)
  • Kherson Okruha
  • Moldavian ASSR
• Dnipropetrovsk Subdistrict^[14] (Dnipropetrovskyi pidraion)
  • Dnipropetrovsk Okruha
  • Zaporizhzhia Okruha
  • Kryvyi Rih Okruha
• Mining Industrial Subdistrict^[14] (Hirnychopromyslovyi pidraion)
  • Artemivsk Okruha
  • Luhansk Okruha
  • Stalino Okruha

See also

• Administrative division of Ukraine (1918)
• Administrative divisions of Ukraine (1918–1925)
• Administrative divisions of the Ukrainian SSR
• Development of the administrative divisions of Ukraine
• Okruhas of the Ukrainian SSR