View source for Chuvashia

{{short description|Republic of Russia in the Volga region}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Chuvash Republic — Chuvashia
| subdivision_type   = Country
| settlement_type    = [[Republics of Russia|Republic]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Chuvashia.svg
| image_map          = Map of Russia (2014–2022) - Chuvashia (disputed Crimea).svg
| pushpin_map        = European Russia
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-wikidata  = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 4
| mapframe-height    = 250
| mapframe-stroke-width = 1
| subdivision_name   = [[Russia]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|55|33|N|47|06|E|type:adm1st_region:RU|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| subdivision_type2  = [[Federal districts of Russia|Federal district]]<ref name="FederalDistrict">{{Cite Russian law|ru_entity=Президент Российской Федерации|ru_type=Указ|ru_number=849|ru_date=13 мая 2000 г.|ru_title=О полномочном представителе Президента Российской Федерации в федеральном округе|ru_effective_date=13 мая 2000 г|ru_published_in="Собрание законодательства РФ", No.&nbsp;20, ст. 2112|ru_published_date=15 мая 2000 г|ru_amendment_type=Указа|ru_amendment_number|ru_amendment_date=19 января 2010 г|ru_amendment_title|en_entity=President of the Russian Federation|en_type=Decree|en_number=849|en_date=May 13, 2000|en_title=On the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in a Federal District|en_effective_date=May 13, 2000|en_url|en_amendment_type=Decree|en_amendment_number|en_amendment_date=January 19, 2010|en_amendment_title}}</ref>
| subdivision_name2  = [[Volga Federal District|Volga]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[Economic regions of Russia|Economic region]]<ref name="EconomicRegion">{{Cite Russian law|ru_entity=Госстандарт Российской Федерации|ru_number=ОК 024-95|ru_date=27 декабря 1995 г.|ru_title=Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 2.&nbsp;Экономические районы|ru_amendment_type=Изменения|ru_amendment_number=5/2001 ОКЭР|en_entity=[[Gosstandart]] of the Russian Federation|en_number=OK 024-95|en_date=December 27, 1995|en_title=Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 2.&nbsp;Economic Regions|en_amendment_type=Amendment|en_amendment_number=5/2001 OKER}}</ref>
| subdivision_name3  = [[Volga-Vyatka economic region|Volga-Vyatka]]
| leader_title       = [[Head of the Chuvash Republic|Head]]<ref name="HeadTitle">Constitution of the Chuvash Republic, Article&nbsp;68</ref>
| leader_name        = [[Oleg Nikolayev (politician)|Oleg Nikolayev]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/29jan2020/ignatiev.html|title=Putin dismissed the head of Chuvashia, Mikhail Ignatiev, in connection with a loss of confidence|date=2020-01-29|language=ru|website=NewsRU|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
| total_type         = Total
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
| area_total_km2     = 18,343
| population_rank    = [[List of federal subjects of Russia by population|39th]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_as_of   = [[Russian Census (2021)|2021 Census]]
| population_total   = 1186909
| population_footnotes = <ref name=2021census>{{cite web|title=Оценка численности постоянного населения по субъектам Российской Федерации|url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/tab-5_VPN-2020.xlsx|publisher=[[Federal State Statistics Service (Russia)|Federal State Statistics Service]]|accessdate=1 September 2022}}</ref>
| timezone1          = [[Yekaterinburg Time|MSK+2]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&prevDoc=102483854&backlink=1&&nd=102148085 |script-title=ru:"Об исчислении времени". Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации |language=ru |access-date=19 January 2019 |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622151333/http://pravo.gov.ru/proxy/ips/?docbody=&prevDoc=102483854&backlink=1&&nd=102148085 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| blank_name         = [[OKTMO]] ID
| blank_info         = 97000000
| native_name        = {{native name|cv|Чӑваш Республики — Чӑваш Ен}}<br>{{native name|ru|Чувашская Республика — Чувашия}}
| image_shield       = Coat of arms of Chuvashia.svg
| iso_code           = RU-CU
| registration_plate = 21, 121
| utc_offset         = +3
| anthem             = {{lang|cv|[[State Anthem of Chuvashia|Чӑваш Республикин патшалӑх гимнӗ]]}}<br />{{transliteration|cv|Çăvaş Respublikin patşalăh gimnĕ}} ([[Chuvash language|Chuvash]])<br />"State Anthem of Chuvashia"<ref name="Anthem">Law #12</ref><br />{{center|[[File:Anthem of Chuvashia.ogg]]}}
| flag_size          = 120px
| shield_size        = 85px
| flag_link          = Flag of Chuvashia
| shield_link        = Coat of arms of Chuvashia
| seat_type          = Capital
| seat               = [[Cheboksary]]<ref name="Capital">Constitution of the Chuvash Republic, Article&nbsp;67.2</ref>
| population_urban   = 63.9%
| population_rural   = 36.1%
| blank_name_sec1    = [[Official language]](s)
| blank_info_sec1    = [[Chuvash language|Chuvash]]<ref name="Languages">Constitution of the Chuvash Republic, Article&nbsp;8</ref>{{* }}[[Russian language|Russian]]<ref name="Russian">Official throughout the Russian Federation according to Article&nbsp;68.1 of the [[Constitution of Russia]].</ref>
| area_footnotes     = 
| mapsize            = 300px
| government_type    = [[State Council of the Chuvash Republic|State Council]]<ref name="Legislature">Constitution of the Chuvash Republic, Article&nbsp;77</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://www.cap.ru|cap.ru}}
}}

'''Chuvashia''',{{efn|{{IPAc-en|tʃ|ʊ|ˈ|v|ɑː|ʃ|i|ə}}; {{langx|ru|Чувашия|Čuvašija}}, {{IPA|ru|tɕʊˈvaʂɨjə|IPA}}; {{langx|cv|Чӑваш Ен|Çăvaş Yen}}, {{IPA|cv|tɕɤ̆ˈʋaʂ jen|IPA}}}} officially known as '''Chuvash Republic — Chuvashia''',{{efn|{{langx|ru|Чувашская Республика — Чувашия}}; {{langx|cv|Чӑваш Республики — Чӑваш Ен}}}} is a [[republics of Russia|republic]] of [[Russia]] located in [[Eastern Europe]]. It is the homeland of the [[Chuvash people]], a [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] ethnic group. Its [[capital city|capital]] is the [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|city]] of [[Cheboksary]]. As of the [[Russian Census (2010)|2010 Census]], its population was&nbsp;1,251,619.<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref>

==Geography==
The Chuvash Republic is located in the center of [[European Russia]], in the heart of the [[Volga-Vyatka economic region]], mostly to the west of the [[Volga River]], in the [[Volga Upland]]. It borders with the [[Nizhny Novgorod Oblast]] in the west, [[Mari El Republic]] in the north, the [[Republic of Tatarstan]] in the east and southeast, [[Republic of Mordovia]] in the southwest, and the [[Ulyanovsk Oblast]] in the south. There are over two thousand rivers in the republic—with the major ones being the Volga, the [[Sura River|Sura]], and the [[Tsivil River|Tsivil]]—as well as four hundred lakes. Some of the Volga River valley reservoirs are in the north of the republic, and the Sura River flows towards the Volga along much of the republic's western boundary.

The climate is moderately [[continental climate|continental]], with the average temperatures ranging from {{convert|-13|C}} in January to {{convert|+19|C}} in July. Annual [[precipitation]] varies between {{convert|450|and|700|mm|sp=us}}, but is uneven from one year to another. Natural resources include [[gypsum]], sand, [[clay]], [[sapropel]] deposits, [[phosphorite]], and [[peat]]. There are [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] deposits, although their extraction has not yet been commercially pursued. Forests, mostly in the south along the Sura River, cover approximately 30% of the land.<ref name="USPC">{{cite web|title=Economic Overview of the Republic of Chuvashia |publisher=United States Peace Corps Business Development Volunteers in Chuvashia |author=Steven Brown and Olin Lagon |url=http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/bisdoc/0106Chuvashia.htm |date=June 2001 |access-date=August 9, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050704084704/http://www.bisnis.doc.gov/bisnis/bisdoc/0106Chuvashia.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2005 }}</ref>

==History==
{{Main|History of Chuvashia}}
[[File:Map chuvashia.png|thumb|A map of the Chuvash Republic]]

The ancestors of the Chuvash were [[Bulgars]] and [[Sabir people|Suars]], [[Onogurs|Oghur]] Turkic tribes residing in the Northern [[Caucasus]] in the 5th to 8th centuries. In the 7th and 8th centuries, a part of the Bulgars left for the [[Balkans]], where, together with local [[South Slavs]], they established the state of modern [[Bulgaria]]. Another part moved to the Middle Volga Region (see [[Volga Bulgaria]]), where the Bulgar population that did not adopt [[Islam]] formed  the foundation of the Chuvash people.<ref name="USPC" />

During the [[Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria]], the steppe-dwelling Suar migrated north, where [[Volga Finns|Volga Finnic]] tribes, such as the [[Mordvins]] and [[Mari people|Mari]] lived. The Chuvash claim to be the descendants of these Suars who assimilated with the Mari. In 1242, they became vassals of the [[Golden Horde]]. Later [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]] and [[Tatars|Tatar]] rulers did not intervene in local internal affairs as long as tribute was paid annually to [[Sarai (city)|Sarai]]. When the power of the Golden Horde began to diminish, local [[Volga Tatars#Nukrat Tatars|Mişär Tatar]] Murzas from [[Pyana River|Piana]] and [[Temnikov]] tried to govern the Chuvash area.

During [[Ivan the Terrible]]'s  war of conquest against the [[Khanate of Kazan]], in August 1552, the Chuvash Orsai and Mari [[Akpar Tokari]] princes swore their loyalty to the [[Grand Duchy of Muscovy]] at [[Alatyr, Chuvash Republic|Alatyr]] on the [[Sura River]]. Between 1650 and 1850, the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] sent [[Chuvash language|Chuvash]]-speaking missionaries to try to convert the Chuvash to the Orthodox faith. A group of these missionaries created a written Chuvash language. Most of the Chuvash who stayed in the area became Orthodox Christians, but some remained [[pagan]].

On 15 May 1917, the Chuvash joined the [[Idel-Ural]] Movement and in December 1917 joined the short-lived [[Idel-Ural State]], when an agreement was reached with [[Tatarstan|Tatar]] representatives to draw the eastern border of Chuvashia at the [[Sviyaga River]]. Between 1918 and 1919, the [[Russian Civil War]] encompassed the area. This ended with victory for the [[Bolsheviks]]. To gain support from the local population, Lenin ordered the creation of a Chuvash state within the [[Russian SFSR]]. On 24 June 1920, the [[Chuvash Autonomous Oblast]] was formed, which was transformed into the [[Chuvash ASSR]] in April 1925.

==Administrative divisions==
{{Main|Administrative divisions of the Chuvash Republic}}

==Politics==
[[File:Cheboksary Government House.jpg|thumb|Seat of the Government of the Chuvash Republic]]
[[File:New Cheboksary Government House.jpg|thumb|Residence of the President of Chuvash Republic]]

Until 2012, the Chuvash Republic officially had the status of a state.  In the constitution of Chuvashia (version 6, dated 13 September 2011 No. 46), the following was fixed: "The Chuvash Republic is a republic (state) within the Russian Federation."

During the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] period, the high authority in the [[Republics of Russia|republic]] was shared between three persons: The first secretary of the Chuvashia CPSU Committee (who in reality had the biggest authority), the chairman of the oblast Soviet (legislative power), and the Chairman of the Republic Executive Committee (executive power). Since 1991, CPSU lost all the power, and the head of the Republic administration, and eventually the governor was appointed/elected alongside elected [[Regional parliaments of Russia|regional parliament]].

The Charter of Republic of Chuvashia is the fundamental law of the region. The [[State Council of the Chuvash Republic]] is the republic's [[regional parliaments of Russia|regional]] standing legislative (representative) body. The highest executive body is the Republic's Government, which includes territorial executive bodies such as district administrations, committees, and commissions that facilitate development and run the day to day matters.

==Demographics==
Despite not being large, the republic is one of the most densely populated regions in the Russian Federation.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} Its population was{{ru-census|p2010=1,251,619|p2002=1,313,754|p1989=1,336,066}}

The capital and largest city of Chuvashia is [[Cheboksary]], with a population of around 464,000 as of 2010. Cheboksary is situated mostly on the southern bank of the Volga in the northern part of the republic (one northern bank district was added in the second part of the 20th century), approximately {{convert|650|km|sp=us}} east of [[Moscow]]. Nearby to the east is the next largest city, [[Novocheboksarsk]], with a population of 124,000 as of 2010.

===Settlements===
{{Largest cities
| country      = Chuvashia
| stat_ref     = 2010 Russian Census
| list_by_pop  =
| div_name     =
| div_link     = Administrative divisions of Chuvashia{{!}}Administrative Division
| city_1 = Cheboksary
| div_1 = Cheboksary{{!}}City of republic significance of Cheboksary
| pop_1 = 453,721
| city_2 = Novocheboksarsk
| div_2 = Novocheboksarsk{{!}}City of republic significance of Novocheboksarsk
| pop_2 = 124,097
| city_3 = Kanash
| div_3 = Kanashsky District
| pop_3 = 45,607
| city_4 = Alatyr, Chuvash Republic{{!}}Alatyr
| div_4 = Alatyrsky District
| pop_4 = 38,203
| city_5 = Shumerlya
| div_5 = Shumerlinsky District
| pop_5 = 31,722
| city_6 = Tsivilsk
| div_6 = Tsivilsky District
| pop_6 = 13,479
| city_7 = Kugesi
| div_7 = Cheboksarsky District
| pop_7 = 11,917
| city_8 = Kozlovka, Kozlovsky District, Chuvash Republic{{!}}Kozlovka
| div_8 = Kozlovsky District
| pop_8 = 10,359
| city_9 = Vurnary
| div_9 = Vurnarsky District
| pop_9 = 10,086
| city_10 = Yadrin
| div_10 = Yadrinsky District
| pop_10 = 9,614
}}
{{Historical populations|3=1926|4=888960|7=1959|8=1097859|9=1970|10=1223675|11=1979|12=1292486|13=1989|14=1336066|15=2002|16=1313754|17=2010|18=1251619|19=2021|20=1186909|type=|footnote=Source: Census data}}

=== Vital statistics ===
[[File:Unbaptized Chuvash people.jpg|thumb|Unbaptized Chuvash people in 1870]]
[[File:Baptized Chuvash people.jpg|thumb|Baptized Chuvash people in 1870]]
:Source: [http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/Cbsd/DBInet.cgi#1 Russian Federal State Statistics Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412011659/http://www.gks.ru/dbscripts/Cbsd/DBInet.cgi#1 |date=April 12, 2008 }}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! width="70pt"|Average population (× 1,000)
! width="70pt"|Live births
! width="70pt"|Deaths
! width="70pt"|Natural change
! width="70pt"|Crude birth rate (per 1,000)
! width="70pt"|Crude death rate (per 1,000)
! width="70pt"|Natural change (per 1,000)
! width="70pt"|Fertility rates
|-
| 1970
| align="right" | 1,227
| align="right" | 22,465
| align="right" | 10,993
| align="right" | 11,472
| align="right" | 18.3
| align="right" | 9.0
| align="right" | 9.3
|-
| 1975
| align="right" | 1,266
| align="right" | 22,956
| align="right" | 12,450
| align="right" | 10,506
| align="right" | 18.1
| align="right" | 9.8
| align="right" | 8.3
|-
| 1980
| align="right" | 1,302
| align="right" | 22,612
| align="right" | 13,908
| align="right" | 8,704
| align="right" | 17.4
| align="right" | 10.7
| align="right" | 6.7
|-
| 1985
| align="right" | 1,311
| align="right" | 24,385
| align="right" | 13,913
| align="right" | 10,472
| align="right" | 18.6
| align="right" | 10.6
| align="right" | 8.0
|-
| 1990
| align="right" | 1,339
| align="right" | 21,116
| align="right" | 13,545
| align="right" | 7,571
| align="right" | 15.8
| align="right" | 10.1
| align="right" | 5.7
| align="right" style="color: blue" | 2.12
|-
| 1991
| align="right" | 1,342
| align="right" | 19,113
| align="right" | 13,459
| align="right" | 5,654
| align="right" | 14.2
| align="right" | 10.0
| align="right" | 4.2
| align="right" | 1.96
|-
| 1992
| align="right" | 1,346
| align="right" | 16,673
| align="right" | 14,141
| align="right" | 2,532
| align="right" | 12.4
| align="right" | 10.5
| align="right" | 1.9
| align="right" | 1.72
|-
| 1993
| align="right" | 1,347
| align="right" | 14,410
| align="right" | 16,876
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2,466
| align="right" | 10.7
| align="right" | 12.5
| align="right" style="color: red"|−1.8
| align="right" | 1.48
|-
| 1994
| align="right" | 1,345
| align="right" | 14,498
| align="right" | 18,003
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,505
| align="right" | 10.8
| align="right" | 13.4
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2.6
| align="right" | 1.48
|-
| 1995
| align="right" | 1,345
| align="right" | 13,842
| align="right" | 17,727
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,885
| align="right" | 10.3
| align="right" | 13.2
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2.9
| align="right" | 1.41
|-
| 1996
| align="right" | 1,343
| align="right" | 13,542
| align="right" | 16,880
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,338
| align="right" | 10.1
| align="right" | 12.6
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2.5
| align="right" | 1.37
|-
| 1997
| align="right" | 1,341
| align="right" | 12,822
| align="right" | 16,762
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,940
| align="right" | 9.6
| align="right" | 12.5
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2.9
| align="right" | 1.30
|-
| 1998
| align="right" | 1,339
| align="right" | 13,300
| align="right" | 15,957
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2,657
| align="right" | 9.9
| align="right" | 11.9
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2.0
| align="right" | 1.34
|-
| 1999
| align="right" | 1,337
| align="right" | 12,129
| align="right" | 17,997
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5,868
| align="right" | 9.1
| align="right" | 13.5
| align="right" style="color: red"|−4.4
| align="right" | 1.22
|-
| 2000
| align="right" | 1,331
| align="right" | 12,363
| align="right" | 18,640
| align="right" style="color: red"|−6,277
| align="right" | 9.3
| align="right" | 14.0
| align="right" style="color: red"|−4.7
| align="right" | 1.25
|-
| 2001
| align="right" | 1,324
| align="right" | 11,986
| align="right" | 18,980
| align="right" style="color: red"|−6,994
| align="right" | 9.1
| align="right" | 14.3
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5.3
| align="right" style="color: red"|1.20
|-
| 2002
| align="right" | 1,314
| align="right" | 12,956
| align="right" | 19,808
| align="right" style="color: red"|−6,852
| align="right" | 9.9
| align="right" | 15.1
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5.2
| align="right" | 1.30
|-
| 2003
| align="right" | 1,304
| align="right" | 13,171
| align="right" | 19,978
| align="right" style="color: red"|−6,807
| align="right" | 10.1
| align="right" | 15.3
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5.2
| align="right" | 1.32
|-
| 2004
| align="right" | 1,295
| align="right" | 13,734
| align="right" | 19,371
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5,637
| align="right" | 10.6
| align="right" | 15.0
| align="right" style="color: red"|−4.4
| align="right" | 1.38
|-
| 2005
| align="right" | 1,286
| align="right" | 13,133
| align="right" | 19,682
| align="right" style="color: red"|−6,549
| align="right" | 10.2
| align="right" | 15.3
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5.1
| align="right" | 1.32
|-
| 2006
| align="right" | 1,277
| align="right" | 13,291
| align="right" | 18,900
| align="right" style="color: red"|−5,609
| align="right" | 10.4
| align="right" | 14.8
| align="right" style="color: red"|−4.4
| align="right" | 1.34
|-
| 2007
| align="right" | 1,269
| align="right" | 14,835
| align="right" | 18,642
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,807
| align="right" | 11.7
| align="right" | 14.7
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3.0
| align="right" | 1.50
|-
| 2008
| align="right" | 1,262
| align="right" | 14,967
| align="right" | 18,436
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,469
| align="right" | 11.9
| align="right" | 14.6
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2.7
| align="right" | 1.51
|-
| 2009
| align="right" | 1,257
| align="right" | 16,103
| align="right" | 17,492
| align="right" style="color: red"|−1,389
| align="right" | 12.8
| align="right" | 13.9
| align="right" style="color: red"|−1.1
| align="right" | 1.63
|-
| 2010
| align="right" | 1,252
| align="right" | 16,174
| align="right" | 18,186
| align="right" style="color: red"|−2,012
| align="right" | 12.9
| align="right" | 14.5
| align="right" style="color: red"|−1.6
| align="right" | 1.65
|-
| 2011
| align="right" | 1,249
| align="right" | 16,165
| align="right" | 16,923
| align="right" style="color: red"|−758
| align="right" | 12.9
| align="right" | 13.6
| align="right" style="color: red"|−0.7
| align="right" | 1.67
|-
| 2012
| align="right" | 1,245
| align="right" | 17,472
| align="right" | 16,607
| align="right" | 865
| align="right" | 14.0
| align="right" | 13.3
| align="right" | 0.7
| align="right" | 1.83
|-
| 2013
| align="right" | 1,242
| align="right" | 17,351
| align="right" | 16,324
| align="right" | 1,027
| align="right" | 14.0
| align="right" | 13.1
| align="right" | 0.9
| align="right" | 1.85
|-
| 2014
| align="right" | 1,240
| align="right" | 17,224
| align="right" | 16,535
| align="right" | 689
| align="right" | 13.9
| align="right" | 13.3
| align="right" | 0.6
| align="right" | 1.88
|-
| 2015
| align="right" | 1,237
| align="right" | 17,138
| align="right" | 16,266
| align="right" | 872
| align="right" | 13.8
| align="right" | 13.1
| align="right" | 0.7
| align="right" | 1.91
|-
| 2016
| align="right" | 1,236
| align="right" | 16,403
| align="right" | 16,258
| align="right" | 145
| align="right" | 13.3
| align="right" | 13.1
| align="right" | 0.2
| align="right" | 1.87
|-
| 2017
| align="right" | 1,233
| align="right" | 13,947
| align="right" | 15,571
| align="right" style="color: red"|−1,624
| align="right" | 11.3
| align="right" | 12.6
| align="right" style="color: red"| -1.3
| align="right" | 1.65
|-
| 2019
| align="right" | 
| align="right" | 11,624
| align="right" | 15,196
| align="right" style="color: red"|−3,572
| align="right" | 9.5
| align="right" | 12.4
| align="right" style="color: red"| -2.9
| align="right" | 
|-
| 2020
| align="right" | 
| align="right" | 11,305
| align="right" | 18,845
| align="right" style="color: red"|−7,540
| align="right" | 9.3
| align="right" | 15.5
| align="right" style="color: red"| -6.2
| align="right" | 
|}

Note: TFR<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gks.ru/bgd/regl/b12_111/Main.htm|title = БГД}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
According to the 2021 Census, ethnic [[Chuvash people|Chuvash]] make up 63.7% of the republic's population. Other groups include [[Russians]] (30.7%), [[Tatars]] (2.7%), [[Mordvin people|Mordvins]] (0.7%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population.<ref name="census2021">{{cite web|title=Национальный состав населения|url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/Tom5_tab1_VPN-2020.xlsx|publisher=[[Federal State Statistics Service (Russia)|Federal State Statistics Service]]|accessdate=30 December 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! colspan="2" | 1926 Census
! colspan="2" | 1939 Census
! colspan="2" | 1959 Census
! colspan="2" | 1970 Census
! colspan="2" | 1979 Census
! colspan="2" | 1989 Census
! colspan="2" | 2002 Census
! colspan="2" | 2010 Census<ref name="2010Census" />
! colspan="2" | 2021 census<ref name="census2021" />
|-bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| align="left"|[[Chuvash people|Chuvash]]
| 667,695
|74.6%
| 777,202
| 72.2%
| 770,351
| 70.2%
| 856,246
|70.0%
| 887,738
|68.4%
| 906,922
|67.8%
| 889,268
|67.7%
| 814,750
|67.7%
| 684,930
| 63.7%
|-
| align="left"|[[Russians]]
| 178,890
|20.0%
| 241,386
|22.4%
| 263,692
|24.0%
| 299,241
|24.5%
| 338,150
|26.0%
| 357,120
|26.7%
| 348,515
|26.5%
| 323,274
|26.9%
| 329,991
| 30.7%
|-
| align="left"|[[Tatars]]
| 22,635
|2.5%
| 29,007
|2.7%
| 31,357
|2.9%
| 36,217
|3.0%
| 37,573
|2.9%
| 35,689
|2.7%
| 36,379
|2.8%
| 34,214
|2.8% 
| 29,092
| 2.7%
|-
|align="left"| [[Mordvins]]
| 23,958
|2.7%
| 22,512
|2.1%
|23,863
|2.2%
| 21,041
|1.7%
| 20,276
|1.6%
| 18,686
|1.4%
| 15,993
|1.2%
| 13,014
|1.1%
| 7,707
| 0.7%
|-
| align="left"|Others
| 1,301
|0.1%
| 6,703
|0.6%
| 8,596
|0.7%
| 10,930
|0.9%
| 14,874
|1.3%
| 19,606
|1.4%
| 23,599
|1.8%
| 18,298
|1.6%
| 23,085
| 2.2%
|-
| align="left" colspan="19"| <sup>1</sup> <small>112,104 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.</small><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.perepis-2010.ru/news/detail.php?ID=6936|title=Впн-2010|access-date=December 22, 2011|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225111852/http://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/perepis2010/croc/perepis_itogi1612.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}

=== Genetics ===
[[Osteopetrosis]] affects 1 newborn out of every 20,000 to 250,000<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/osteopetrosis/|title=Osteopetrosis: MedlinePlus Genetics|website=medlineplus.gov}}</ref> worldwide, but the odds are much higher in the Russian region of Chuvashia (1 of every 3,500–4,000 newborns) due to genetic traits of the Chuvash people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnalab.ru/diseases-diagnostics/osteopetrosis|title=Остеопетроз рецессивный (мраморная болезнь костей) - ДНК-диагностика - Центр Молекулярной Генетики|website=www.dnalab.ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.genetik.med.cap.ru/Page.aspx?id=580773|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201103911/http://www.genetik.med.cap.ru/Page.aspx?id=580773|url-status=dead|title=Медицинская генетика Чувашии|archivedate=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Bar box
|title=Religion in Chuvashia as of 2012 (Sreda Arena Atlas)<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas">[http://sreda.org/en/arena "Arena: Atlas of Religions and Nationalities in Russia"]. Sreda, 2012.</ref><ref name="2012Arena-religion-maps">[http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg 2012 Arena Atlas Religion Maps]. "Ogonek", № 34 (5243), 27/08/2012. Retrieved 21/04/2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20170421154615/http://c2.kommersant.ru/ISSUES.PHOTO/OGONIOK/2012/034/ogcyhjk2.jpg Archived].</ref>
|float=right
|bars=
{{Bar percent|[[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodoxy]]|DarkOrchid|64.7}}
{{Bar percent|Other [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]]|MediumOrchid|4.2}}
{{Bar percent|Other [[Christianity in Russia|Christians]]|DeepSkyBlue|2.7}}
{{Bar percent|[[Islam in Russia|Islam]]|Green|3.5}}
{{Bar percent|[[Rodnovery]] and other native faiths|Red|1.2}}
{{Bar percent|[[Spiritual but not religious]]|DarkSlateGray|14.2}}
{{Bar percent|[[Atheism]] and [[irreligion]]|Black|7.7}}
{{Bar percent|Other and undeclared|Gray|1.8}}
}}

According to a 2012 survey,<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas"/> 64.7% of the population of Chuvashia adheres to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], 4% are Orthodox Christian believers without belonging to any church or members of non-Russian [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox churches]], 3% of the population (mostly [[Tatars]]) follow [[Islam]], 3% are [[nondenominational Christianity|unaffiliated]] [[Christianity|Christians]], 1% follow indigenous faiths (''[[Vattisen Yaly]]'', Chuvash folk religion). In addition, 24% of the population declares to be "[[spiritual but not religious]]", 1% is [[atheism|atheist]] and 2.3% follows other religions or did not answer to the question.<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas"/>

Study of religion is compulsory for schoolchildren in Chuvashia. Of the students, approximately 76.9% are enrolled for Orthodox Studies, 16.0% for Secular Studies, 15.7% for World Religions Studies and 1.4% for Islamic Studies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.regnum.ru/news/1333093.html|title = Всё больше чувашских школьников предпочитают изучать светскую этику}}</ref>
{{clear}}

===Education===
There are five higher educational institutions, including the [[Chuvash State University]], the [[Chuvash State Pedagogical University]], and the [[Chuvash State Agrarian University]] located in Cheboksary. These, together with 28 colleges and technical schools, are currently attended by approximately 45,000 students.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Chuvashia}}
[[File:Spirtzavod.jpg|thumb|In a liquor distillery, [[Mariinsky Posad]]]]

The Chuvash Republic is the most populous and fertile area in the middle [[Volga region]]. There are deciduous woodlands on fertile black earth. In agriculture, wheat and sugar-beet, pigs and beef cattle have become more important than the rye, oats, barley and dairy cattle which are typical for the whole area.

The republic is Russia's center for growing [[hops]] and is famous throughout the country for its long history of [[beer]] [[brewing]]. It is also a major center for [[electrical engineering]], especially in the area of [[power transmission]] and [[control system]]s.<ref name="USPC" /> Other leading industries are [[metalworking]], [[electricity generation]], and chemical manufacturing. There are also large timber-working mills at Shumerlin.

The largest companies in the region include [[Khimprom Novocheboksarsk]] (revenues of ${{to USD|9600|RUS|year=2017}} million in 2017), [[Accond]] (confectionery maker$, {{to USD|8900|RUS|year=2017}} million), [[Cheboksary Instrument-Making Plant]] (${{to USD|8300|RUS|year=2017}} million), [[NPP EKRA]] (power engineering$, {{to USD|5900|RUS|year=2017}} million).<ref name="regioncompanies">{{cite web |script-title=ru:Выписки ЕГРЮЛ и ЕГРИП, проверка контрагентов, ИНН и КПП организаций, реквизиты ИП и ООО |url=https://sbis.ru/contragents?p=companies |website=СБИС |access-date=20 October 2018 |language=ru}}</ref>

==Transportation==
The [[transport network]] in the republic is one of the most developed in Russia. The republic's system of roads, railroads, waterways, and airports closely ties the region with others in and outside of Russia.<ref name="USPC" />

===Roads===
Only four roads in the Chuvash Republic are classified as important federal highways. The most important is Highway M-7, which runs from Nizhny Novgorod through the northern parts of the republic from [[Yadrinsky Nikolskoye]] via [[Malye Tyumerli]], [[Kalmykovo]], [[Khyrkasy]], [[Novye Lapsary]], [[Kugesi]], [[Shivlinsk]], [[Staraya Tyurlema]], to [[Kazan]] in the [[Republic of Tatarstan]]. It also forms a connection via Chuvashia through the southern suburbs of Cheboksary and Novocheboksary to the [[Mari El Republic]] and the [[Vyatka Highway]]. Part of this road is classified as a motorway, the only one in the republic. From Yadrinsky Nikolskoye, the federal road P-178 runs through [[Yadrin]], [[Shumerlya]], Alatyr, to [[Surskoye]] in [[Ulyanovsk Oblast]] and further to [[Ulyanovsk]]. In the eastern part of Chuvashia, the federal road A-151 runs from [[Tsivilsk]] through [[Kanash]], [[Komsomolskoye, Chuvash Republic|Komsomolskoye]], [[Chkalovskoye, Chuvash Republic|Chkalovskoye]], [[Karabay-Shemursha]], [[Shemursha]] to Ulyanovsk and [[Saratov]]. All other roads in Chuvashia are classified as local area roads.

Automobiles, trucks, and buses are the major forms of transportation, with the republic ranking fourth in highway density in all of Russia.<ref name="USPC" /> Cheboksary is situated on one of the main highways of the Russian Federation leading from [[Moscow]] to the industrial areas of Tatarstan, the southern [[Ural Mountains|Urals]], and [[Siberia]]. A recently completed bridge across the Volga River in the north connects the republic to the developed [[Urals Federal District|Ural]] and [[Volga Federal District]]s. To the south, highways connect Chuvashia with Saratov and [[Volgograd]]. Extensive public and private bus systems connect all towns within the republic with each other and with the surrounding regions.<ref name="USPC" />

The standard speed of transportation of [[containerization|containers]] by road is {{convert|400|km|sp=us}} per day. The average time of delivery from Cheboksary to Moscow is 1.5 days; to [[Saint Petersburg]], 2.5 days; and to [[Western Europe]], 10 to 15 days.<ref name="USPC" />

===Railways===
The railway network is highly developed, convenient, and accessible year-round. One of the largest railway junctions of Russia – [[Kanash]]—is in the center of the republic. Via Kanash, the rail system connects the major towns in Chuvashia with the big industrial centers of eastern [[Siberia]], the [[Ural Mountains|Urals]], and Moscow. Express trains are reliable and provide a low-cost, comfortable way to travel. Express trains to and from Moscow are available every day, with the overnight journey taking approximately fourteen hours each way.

The following lines serve railway traffic in the Chuvash Republic:
*[[Arzamas]]-Kanash line
*[[Krasny Usel]] – Kanash -[[Sviyazhsk]] line
*Kanash – Cheboksary II – Cheboksary I – Cheboksary II – [[Novocheboksarsk]] line

In addition to these lines, there are {{convert|26|km|mi|sp=us}} of {{Track gauge|1520mm|lk=on}} gauge industrial lines running from [[Altyshevo]] station, on Alatyr-Kanash section, to [[Pervomaysky, Chuvash Republic|Pervomaysky]], located just west of [[Starye Aybesi]] in [[Alatyrsky District]].

All railway lines in Chuvashia are operated by the MPS [[Gorky Railway]] Division. Steam locomotives were mostly replaced in 1970 by diesel locomotives and when the main [[Arzamas]]-Kanash-[[Sviyazhsk]] line was electrified, the diesel locomotives were replaced by electric ones.

The Arzamas-Kanash-Sviyazhsk line is a double track main line, while the others are single track lines. The 84&nbsp;km (52&nbsp;mi) Sviyazhsk-Kanash section was electrified in 1986, the 142&nbsp;km (88&nbsp;mi) Kanash-Sergach section in 1987.

In 1967, there were four daily passenger trains in both directions on the Alatyr-Kanash line. One of them was the semifast Sochi-Sverdlovsk-Sochi long-distance transit train, halting only at [[Alatyr, Chuvash Republic|Alatyr]], [[Buinsk]], and [[Kanash]]. Cheboksary was connected by daily semifast passenger train to Moscow. The travel time was 17.30{{Clarify|date=March 2011}} hours for the 758&nbsp;km (471&nbsp;mi) journey.  21 express and passenger trains used the Arzamas-Kanash-Sviyazhsk main line in the summer high season in both directions. Of these, four did not halt in Chuvashia. Most of the remaining semifast trains stopped at Shumerlya, Piner, Burnary, and Kanash. Four pairs of semifast trains also stopped at Tyurmari. In the 1999–2000 timetable, 11 pairs of Moscow-Kanash-Kazan express trains stopped at Kanash. The Chuvashia 53/54 express trains between Moscow and Kanash took 11.23 hours, back 10.57 hours.{{Clarify|date=March 2011}}

In addition to Russian {{Track gauge|1524mm}} gauge railways, there were six {{Track gauge|750mm}} [[narrow-gauge railway]] lines: two short [[peat]] briquette industry lines at Severny and Sosnovka on the north side of the Volga, and four forest railways at Shumerlya, Atrat and Kirya. All opened in the 1930s. In 1965, their total length was {{convert|145|km|sp=us}}:
*Shumerlya-Kabanovo-Rechnoy-Burak-Krasnobar forest railway – total length {{convert|72|km|sp=us}}
*Shumerlya-Kumashka-Salantshik-Yakhaykino forest railway – {{convert|46|km|sp=us}}
*Kirya-Lesopunkt Lyulya forest railway – {{convert|13|km|sp=us}}
*Atrat-Dolnaya Polyana-Lesozavod Gart forest railway – {{convert|14|km|sp=us}}

All lines were closed in the economic uncertainty after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

===Rivers===
[[File:Туристы на пикнике.jpg|thumb|[[Volga River]] in Chuvashia]]
The [[Volga River|Volga]] and [[Sura River]]s connect Chuvashia to a national and international water network. To the south, [[Volgograd]], [[Rostov-on-Don]], [[Astrakhan]], the [[Caspian Sea]], and [[Black Sea]] are directly reachable. To the west, the Volga River connects Cheboksary with [[Nizhny Novgorod]], [[Yaroslavl]], Moscow and the northern regions of Russia. By using river-sea vessels, cargo transportation is possible from Chuvash river ports all the way to [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Novorossiysk]] (on the Black Sea), [[Astrakhan]], and ports situated on the [[Danube River]]. However, the river is frozen from December through April.<ref name="USPC" /> Cheboksary is a frequent stop on the many boat tours of the Volga.<ref name="USPC" />

===Air===
The international [[Cheboksary Airport]] receives both cargo and passenger aircraft of practically all types and sizes. There are regularly scheduled flights to Moscow and other destinations. Additionally, Cheboksary is about a four-hour drive from [[Strigino International Airport]], the airport primarily serving [[Nizhny Novgorod]], which offers a greater number of flights, including connections through [[Aeroflot]] and [[Belavia]].

==Culture==
While [[Russian language|Russian]] is the predominant business language, the [[Chuvash language]] is still spoken by many, especially in the country. The Chuvash language belongs to the [[Oghur languages|Oghur]] subgroup of the [[Turkic languages|Turkic language group]]. In ancient times a [[Orkhon script|runic]] system of writing was used. Chuvashi now uses a [[Cyrillic alphabet variants#Chuvash|modified Cyrillic]] script that was adopted in 1871.

There has been a resurgence of native Chuvash pride, with many people looking back to their Chuvash roots and exploring the culture and heritage and relearning the language. Most building signs, road signs, and announcements are in both Russian and Chuvash.

At present Chuvash Republic has six professional theaters:

*[[Chuvash State Opera and Ballet Theater]]
*[[Chuvash State Academic Drama Theater]]
*[[Chuvash State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble]]
*[[Chuvash Children's Theater]]
*[[Chuvash State Puppet Theater]]
*[[Chuvash State Philharmonic Society]]
*[[Russian State Drama Theater]]
*[[Chuvash State Youth Theater]]
*[[Chuvash State Experimental Drama Theater]]

and over 30 amateur theaters, a Philharmonic Society, an Academic Folk Song and Dance Group, an Academic Choir, a Chamber Orchestra, and some professional concert groups.

There are also more than 20 museums, exhibition halls and modern art galleries.

*[[Chuvash National Museum]].
*Art Museum
**[[Museum of Vasily Chapayev]]
**[[Literature Museum named after K.Ivanov]]
**[[Museum and Exhibition Center]]
**[[Culture and Exhibition Center «Raduga»]]
**[[Chuvash Beer Museum]]
**[[Chuvash State Geological Museum]]
**[[Museum of Cheboksary]]
**Space Museum
**Art Gallery
**Contemporary Art Center
**Art Gallery «6Х7»

Chuvash Republic has more than 565 public libraries, the book collection being over 10 million units.
*[[The Chuvash National Library]]

Monuments of Architecture

There are about 627 monuments of architecture in Chuvashia, including 54 of national importance: the Vvedensky Cathedral (1657), the Holy Trinity Monastery (1566), the Salt House, the houses of Chuvash famous merchants (Zeleischikov, Solovtsov, the Efremov family) (18th-19th century) in Cheboksary, the Tolmachev family house and Trinity Cathedral (18th century) in the town of [[Tsivilsk]], the Burashnikov house in the town of [[Yadrin]].

[[Surhuri]] ({{langx|cv|Сурхури}}) is the [[Chuvash people|Chuvash]] national [[holiday]].

==Sport==
The Chuvash Republic, along with [[Mordovia]], has produced some of the best modern [[racewalking|race walkers]], such as [[Vera Sokolova]], [[Olimpiada Ivanova]], [[Yelena Nikolayeva (racewalker)|Yelena Nikolayeva]] and [[Vladimir Andreyev (racewalker)|Vladimir Andreyev]]. Additionally, the [[2008 IAAF World Race Walking Cup]] was held in [[Cheboksary]]. The Chuvash Republic is also represented by the basketball team [https://betsapi.com/t/362624/Cheboksary-Hawks Cheboksary Hawks], which performs in the [https://betsapi.com/l/1734/Russia-Superleague-2 Russia Superleague 2].

== Creative unions ==
* [[Union of the Writers of the Chuvash Republic]]

==Radio==
*[[Chuvash national radio]]
*[[Radio of Chuvashia]]

== See also ==
* [[Chuvash national symbols]]
* [[Bulgars]]
* [[Volga Bulgaria]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{Cite book
|last=Нестеров
|first=В.&nbsp;А.
|script-title=ru:Населённые пункты Чувашской АССР. 1917–1981 годы: Справочник об административно-территориальном делении
|orig-year=1981
|year=1981
|publisher=Чувашское книжное издательство
|language=ru
}}
*{{RussiaBasicLawRef|cu}}
*{{Cite Russian law
|ru_entity=Государственный Совет Чувашской Республики
|ru_type=Закон
|ru_number=12
|ru_date=14 июля 1997 г.
|ru_title=О государственных символах Чувашской Республики
|ru_effective_date=со дня официального опубликования
|ru_published_in="Чаваш ен", No.30
|ru_published_date=26 июля&nbsp;– 2 августа 1997 г
|ru_url=
|ru_amendment_type=Закона
|ru_amendment_number=59
|ru_amendment_date=30 июля 2013 г.
|ru_amendment_title=О внесении изменений в Закон Чувашской Республики "О государственных символах Чувашской Республики"
|en_entity=State Council of the Chuvash Republic
|en_type=Law
|en_number=12
|en_date=July&nbsp;14, 1997
|en_title=On the State Symbols of the Chuvash Republic
|en_effective_date=the day of the official publication
|en_url=
|en_amendment_type=Law
|en_amendment_number=59
|en_amendment_date=July&nbsp;30, 2013
|en_amendment_title=On Amending the Law of the Chuvash Republic "On the State Symbols of the Chuvash Republic"
}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Salmin |first=Anton K. |date=2020 |url=http://salmin-ak.ru/userfile/pdf/2020/2020TheHistory.pdf |title=The History of the Chuvash People in Ethnographic Facts |pages=1–2 |journal=Journal Tourism Studies & Practices  |issue=2: Geplat: Caderno Suplementar |issn=2316-1493 |access-date=May 2, 2023 |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106085900/http://salmin-ak.ru/userfile/pdf/2020/2020TheHistory.pdf |url-status=dead }}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite journal
|last=Vovina
|first=Olessia P.
|date=December 2000
|title=Building the road to the temple: Religion and national revival in the Chuvash Republic
|journal=[[Nationalities Papers]]
|volume=28
|issue=4
|pages=695–706
|doi=10.1080/00905990020009683
|s2cid=153834810
}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://nasledie.nbchr.ru/|script-title=ru:Культурное наследие Чувашии|publisher=Национальная библиотека Чувашской Республики|language=ru|access-date=February 6, 2012}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}
*[http://gov.cap.ru/hierarhy_cap.asp?page=./103 Official website of the Chuvash Republic]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050411073733/http://crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ru-cu.html About flag and coat of arms of the Chuvash Republic]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120116144521/http://news.chuvashia.net/ Chuvashia news]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20181026182747/https://www.idelreal.org/a/27902182.html Why do Chuvash people not speak  in Chuvash?] (article in Russian)
*[https://www.idelreal.org/a/29546401.html "As it is in the Chuvash Republic the Chuvash are not needed?!"]

{{Chuvashia}}
{{Subdivisions of Russia}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2014}}

[[Category:Chuvashia| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1925]]
[[Category:Members of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]]
[[Category:Regions of Europe with multiple official languages]]
[[Category:1925 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Republics of Russia]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where Russian is an official language]]