View source for Murmansk Oblast

{{short description|First-level administrative division of Russia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox Russian federal subject
|en_name=Murmansk Oblast
|ru_name=Мурманская область
|image_map=Map of Russia (2014–2022) - Murmansk Oblast.svg
|image_skyline = Kandalaksha Bay.jpg
|image_caption = [[Kandalaksha Gulf]]
|coordinates={{coord|68|02|N|34|34|E|type:adm1st_region:RU|display=inline,title}}
|image_coa=Coat of arms of Murmansk Oblast (large, alternative).svg
|image_flag=Flag of Murmansk Oblast (large).svg
|anthem=
|anthem_ref=
<!--POLITICAL STATUS-->
|political_status=Oblast
|political_status_link=Oblasts of Russia
|federal_district=[[Northwestern Federal District|Northwestern]]
|economic_region=[[Northern economic region (Russia)|Northern]]
|adm_ctr_type=[[Administrative center]]
|adm_ctr_name=[[Murmansk]]
<!--STATS-->
|pop_2021census=667744
|pop_2010census_rank=62nd
|urban_pop_2010census=93.1%
|rural_pop_2010census=6.9%
|pop_2010census_ref=<ref name="2010Census" />
|pop_latest=
|pop_latest_date=
|pop_latest_ref=<ref name="2014Est">Murmansk Oblast Territorial Branch of the [[Russian Federal State Statistics Service|Federal State Statistics Service]]. {{cite web |url= http://murmanskstat.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/murmanskstat/resources/24ca63004e6a8febba3fbb067d885716/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%8F.pdf |script-title= ru:Демография |language= ru |access-date= April 8, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170910221625/http://murmanskstat.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/murmanskstat/resources/24ca63004e6a8febba3fbb067d885716/%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%8F.pdf |archive-date= September 10, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
|area_km2=144902
|area_km2_rank=26th
|established_date=May&nbsp;28, 1938
|established_date_ref=<ref name="Established" />
|license_plates=51
|ISO=RU-MUR
<!--GOVERNMENT-->
|leader_title=[[Governor of Murmansk Oblast|Governor]]
|leader_title_ref=<ref name="LeaderTitle">Charter of Murmansk Oblast, Article&nbsp;14.1</ref>
|leader_name=[[Andrey Chibis]]
|leader_name_ref=<ref name="HeadNm">{{cite web | script-title=ru:Официальный сайт Губернатора Мурманской области :: Биография | trans-title=Official website of the Governor of Murmansk Oblast | website=gubernator.gov-murman.ru | date=2014-04-08 | url=http://gubernator.gov-murman.ru/about/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408223844/http://gubernator.gov-murman.ru/about/ | archive-date=2014-04-08 | url-status=dead | language=ru | access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref>
|legislature=[[Murmansk Oblast Duma|Oblast Duma]]
|legislature_ref=<ref name="Legis">Charter of Murmansk Oblast, Article&nbsp;13</ref>
|website=http://www.gov-murman.ru/
}}

'''Murmansk Oblast'''{{efn|{{bulleted list|{{langx|ru|Му́рманская о́бласть|Murmanskaya oblastʹ}}, {{IPA|ru|ˈmurmənskəjə ˈobləsʲtʲ}}|{{langx|sjd|Мурман е̄ммьне|Murman jemmʹne}}|{{langx|no|Murmansk fylke<ref>{{cite web | url=https://snl.no/Murmansk_-_fylke | title=Murmansk – fylke | date=September 21, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nrk.no/urix/russisk-jagerfly-har-styrtet-i-murmansk-fylke-1.16388882 | title=Russisk jagerfly har styrtet i Murmansk fylke | date=April 26, 2023 }}</ref>}}|{{langx|fi|Murmanskin alue}}}}}} is a [[federal subjects of Russia|federal subject]] (an [[oblast]]) of [[Russia]], located in the northwestern part of the country, with a total land area of {{convert|144,900|km2}}. Its only internal border is the [[Republic of Karelia]] to the south, and it is bordered internationally by [[Finland]] to the west and [[Norway]] to the northwest and the [[Barents Sea]] lies to the north and [[White Sea]] lies to the south and east. Its [[administrative center]] is the [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|city]] of [[Murmansk]]. As of the [[Russian Census (2010)|2010 Census]], its population was 795,409;<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref> however, at the 2021 Census, the population had declined to 667,744.<ref name="ReferenceA">Federal State Statistics Service Russia (web).</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Вайдагубский маяк.jpg|thumb|Vaidagubsky [[lighthouse]] in Murmansk Oblast]]
Geographically, Murmansk Oblast is located mainly on the [[Kola Peninsula]] almost completely north of the [[Arctic Circle]]<ref name="Atlas2007">''2007 Atlas of Murmansk Oblast'', p.&nbsp;2</ref> and is a part of the larger [[Sápmi|Sápmi (Lapland) region]] that spans over four countries.<ref name="Lapland">Ratcliffe, p.&nbsp;1</ref> The oblast borders with the [[Republic of Karelia]] in Russia in the south, [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland Region]] in [[Finland]] in the west, [[Finnmark|Finnmark County]] in [[Norway]] in the northwest, and is bounded by the [[Barents Sea]] in the north and the [[White Sea]] in the south and east.<ref name="Atlas2007" /> [[Arkhangelsk Oblast]] of Russia lies across the White Sea.<ref name="Atlas2007" />

Much of the oblast's relief is hilly, with the [[Khibiny Mountains|Khibiny]] and [[Lovozero Massif|Lovozero]] ranges rising as high as {{convert|1200|m|sp=us}} above [[sea level]] and stretching from west to east.<ref name="Atlas2007" /> The highest point of Murmansk Oblast is [[Yudychvumchorr]], a flat-topped peak of the Khibiny.<ref name="PGSR">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140128005117/http://geo.1september.ru/2006/04/16.htm Физико-географическая статистика России (Physical and geographical statistics of Russia) – Yudychvumchorr]</ref> The north of the oblast is mostly covered by [[tundra]]; [[forest-tundra]] prevails further south, while the southern regions are in the [[taiga]] zone.<ref name="Atlas2007" /> There are over 100,000 lakes and 18,000 rivers in the oblast.<ref name="Atlas2007" /> The coast contains the [[Rybachy Peninsula]] and the [[Cape Svyatoy Nos, Murmansk Oblast|Cape Svyatoy Nos]] peninsulas.

The climate is harsh and unstable, due to the proximity of the [[Gulf Stream]] on one side and Arctic cold fronts on the other.<ref name="Atlas2007" /> Sharp temperature changes, high winds, and abundant [[precipitation]] are common throughout the year, with the heating season lasting for ten straight months.<ref name="Atlas2007" /> However, the waters of the [[Murman Coast]] in the south remain warm enough to remain ice-free even in winter.<ref name="Field">Field</ref>

There is also a large number of islands belonging to the oblast, the main ones being (west to east) the [[Aynovy Islands]], [[Bolshoy Oleny Island]], [[Kildin Island]] [[Malyy Oleniy Island]], [[Kharlov Island]], [[Vesknyak Island]], [[Litskiye Island]], [[Nokuyev Island]], [[Vitte Island]], [[Lumbovskiy Island]], [[Goryainov Island]] and [[Sosnovets Island]].

=== Lakes ===
*[[Lake Yurkhyamyayarvi]]

=== Climate ===

Most areas of the Kola Peninsula are [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dfc''). The nearby islands usually belong to [[tundra]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''ET'').

{{sort under}}
{| class="wikitable sortable sort-under" style="text-align: center; font-size: 85%;"
|+ Monthly average highs and lows for various cities and towns in Murmansk Oblast in Celsius and Fahrenheit
|-
! City
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jan|January}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Feb|February}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Mar|March}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Apr|April}}
! data-sort-type="number" | May
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jun|June}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Jul|July}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Aug|August}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Sep|September}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Oct|October}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Nov|November}}
! data-sort-type="number" | {{Tooltip|Dec|December}}
|-
| [[Murmansk]]<!-- forecast office -->
| {{convert|-6.5|/|-12.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-6.4|/|-12.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-1.9|/|-8.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|2.9|/|-3.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|8.4|/|1.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|13.8|/|5.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|17.7|/|9.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|15.3|/|8.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|10.7|/|5.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.6|/|-0.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-1.8|/|-6.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-4.1|/|-9.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Kandalaksha]]
| {{convert|-7.7|/|-15.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-6.9|/|-15.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-1.6|/|-11.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|3.8|/|-5.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|9.8|/|1.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|16.2|/|7.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|19.5|/|10.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|16.9|/|8.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|11.4|/|3.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.0|/|-1.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-1.9|/|-7.5|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-5.0|/|-12.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| [[Vayda-Guba]]
| {{convert|-2.2|/|-7.3|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-2.7|/|-7.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-1.1|/|-5.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|1.8|/|-2.6|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|6.4|/|1.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|10.3|/|5.1|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|14.1|/|8.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|13.4|/|8.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|10.0|/|5.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.8|/|1.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|1.1|/|-3.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-0.6|/|-5.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|-
| Sosnovets Island
| {{convert|-5.7|/|-10.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-6.2|/|-11.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-3.6|/|-8.7|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|0.0|/|-4.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.3|/|-0.4|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|8.9|/|3.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.4|/|7.2|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|12.0|/|7.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|9.6|/|5.8|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|4.7|/|1.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-0.1|/|-3.9|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
| {{convert|-3.1|/|-7.0|C|disp=br()|abbr=values}}
|}

== History ==
{{see also|Kola Peninsula#History}}

The [[Sami people|Saami]], now a very small minority, are the indigenous people of the region.  [[Russians]] started exploring the shores of the White Sea as early as in the 12th century, and in 1916 during [[World War I]] founded the Russian city of [[Murmansk]] as an ice-free supply port.<ref>
{{cite book
 |last1                = Rybakov
 |first1               = Felix F.
 |editor-last1         = Nuttall
 |editor-first1        = Mark
 |date                 = 23 September 2005
 |chapter              = Murmansk
 |title                = Encyclopedia of the Arctic
 |url                  = https://books.google.com/books?id=Swr9BTI_2FEC
 |volume               = 2
 |publication-place    = New York
 |publisher            = Routledge
 |page                 = 1330
 |isbn                 = 9781136786808
 |access-date          = 13 July 2024
 |quote                = From its foundation as a supply port during World War I, Murmansk developed as a seaport. The port does not freeze due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. This is significant for the Russian econony because year-round navigation is impossible in the Arkhangel'sk and St Petersburg seaport areas.
}} 
</ref>
As of 2010, Murmansk had {{ru-census2010|307,257|,}} people – nearly 40% of the oblast's population. Many [[Murmansk Finns|Finns]] also immigrated to Murmansk during the [[Finnish famine of 1866–68|Finnish famine]], around the year 1860.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/323421|title=Muurmannin rannalle ja Venäjän Lappiin : Suomalaisten siirtolaisuus Kuolan niemimaalle ja kuolansuomalaiset 1858–1917|year=2020|last1=Mikko|first1=Kuitula}}</ref>

The oblast was established on May&nbsp;28, 1938 from [[Murmansk Okrug]] of [[Leningrad Oblast]] (comprising the city of Murmansk, [[Kirovsky District, Murmansk Oblast|Kirovsky]], [[Kolsky District|Kolsky]], [[Lovozersky District|Lovozersky]], [[Polyarny District|Polyarny]], [[Saamsky District|Saamsky]], [[Teribersky District|Teribersky]], and [[Tersky District, Murmansk Oblast|Tersky Districts]]) and [[Kandalakshsky District]] of the [[Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic|Karelian ASSR]].<ref name="Established">Decree of May&nbsp;28, 1938</ref>

The area of [[Pechengsky District]] (''Petsamo'' in [[Finnish language|Finnish]]), which was ceded to Finland by the [[Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Finnish)|1920 Treaty of Tartu]] and gave Finland access to the [[Barents Sea]], became once again part of the [[RSFSR]] in 1940. After the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947|Paris Peace Treaties of 1947]], the local Saami population was given the choice either of staying in Soviet Russia or resettling in Finland.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} Most of them chose the second option.{{citation needed|date=May 2012}} On 30 October 1997, Murmansk, alongside [[Astrakhan Oblast|Astrakhan]], [[Kirov Oblast|Kirov]], [[Ulyanovsk Oblast|Ulyanovsk]], and [[Yaroslavl Oblast|Yaroslavl]] signed a [[Politics of Russia#Power sharing|power-sharing agreement]] with the government of Russia, gaining autonomy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jamestown.org/program/yeltsin-signs-power-sharing-agreements-with-five-more-russian-regions/ |title= Yeltsin Signs Power-Sharing Agreements With Five More Russian Regions|date= 1997-11-03|website= Jamestown|language= en-US|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref> The autonomous status operated until 31 May 2003.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chuman|first=Mizuki|title=The Rise and Fall of Power-Sharing Treaties Between Center and Regions in Post-Soviet Russia|url=http://demokratizatsiya.pub/archives/19_2_L7H017206G216817.pdf|journal=Demokratizatsiya|pages=146|archive-date=March 8, 2019|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308002915/http://demokratizatsiya.pub/archives/19_2_L7H017206G216817.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Politics ==
[[File:Здание городской и областной администрации в Мурманске..JPG|thumb|Oblast Administration (right) and City Administration (left) buildings on Lenin's Avenue, Murmansk]]

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

The Charter of Murmansk Oblast is the fundamental law of the region. The Legislative Assembly of Murmansk Oblast is the province's standing legislative (representative) body. The Legislative Assembly exercises its authority by passing laws, resolutions, and other legal acts and by supervising the implementation and observance of the laws and other legal acts passed by it. The highest executive body is the Oblast Government, which includes territorial executive bodies such as district administrations, committees, and commissions that facilitate development and run the day to day matters of the province. The Oblast administration supports the activities of the Governor who is the highest official and acts as guarantor of the observance of the oblast Charter by the [[Constitution of Russia]].

=== Governors of Murmansk Oblast ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Period
|-
|[[Yury Yevdokimov]]
|December 1997 – March 21, 2009
|-
|[[Dmitry Dmitriyenko]]
|March 21, 2009 – April 4, 2012
|-
|[[Marina Kovtun]]
|April 4, 2012 – March 21, 2019
|-
|[[Andrey Chibis]]
|March 21, 2019 – incumbent
|}

=== Chairmen of the Murmansk Oblast Duma ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Period
|-
|[[Pavel Sazhinov]]
|1994–2007
|-
|[[Yevgeny Nikora]]
|2007–2011
|-
|[[Vasily Shambir]]
|2011–2014
|-
|[[Mikhail Ilinykh]]
|2014 – Incumbent
|}
Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.duma.murman.ru/|title=Мурманская областная Дума. Официальный сайт|work=murman.ru|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Murmansk Oblast}}

== Demographics ==
{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote = Source: Census data, estimate<ref name=2025Estimate>{{cite web|title=Предварительная оценка численности постоянного населения на 1 января 2025 года|url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/PrPopul2025_Site.xlsx|publisher=[[Federal State Statistics Service (Russia)|Federal State Statistics Service]]|accessdate=3 February 2025}}</ref>
|[[1926 Soviet census|1926]] | 23006
|[[1959 Soviet census|1959]] | 567672
|[[1970 Soviet census|1970]] | 799527
|[[1979 Soviet census|1979]] | 965462
|[[1989 Soviet census|1989]] | 1146757
|[[2002 Russian census|2002]] | 892534
|[[2010 Russian census|2010]] | 795409
|[[2021 Russian census|2021]] | 667744
|2025 | 650920
}}
'''Population''': {{ru-census|p2021=667,744.<ref name="ReferenceA">Federal State Statistics Service Russia (web).</ref>|p2010=795,409|p2002=892,534|p1989=1,146,757}}

The indigenous people of the area, the [[Sami people|Saami]], are only a tiny minority today. As of the [[Russian Census (2002)|2002 Census]], 92.2% of the oblast's population live in urban areas.<ref name="Population">{{cite web|url=http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_04_1.htm|title=Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов&nbsp;– районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек|trans-title=Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000|access-date=2009-04-17|author=Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service)|date=2004-05-21|work=Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002)|publisher=Federal State Statistics Service|language=ru|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708174053/http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_04_1.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The most populous city is the Oblast's administrative center, [[Murmansk]], with 270,000 inhabitants in 2021.<ref name="Population" />  Other large cities and towns include [[Severomorsk]], [[Apatity]], [[Kandalaksha]], [[Monchegorsk]], and [[Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast|Kirovsk]].
[[File:Botanischer Garten in Kirovsk.jpg|thumb|The Polar Alpine Botanical Garden ([[:ru:Полярно-альпийский ботанический сад-институт|Полярно-альпийский ботанический сад-институт]]) in [[Kirovsk, Murmansk Oblast|Kirovsk]]]]

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Ethnicities in Murmansk Oblast in 2021<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>
|-
! Ethnicity 
!Population !! Percentage
|-
| [[Russians]] 
|515,521|| 89.9%
|-
| [[Ukrainians]] 
|13,353|| 2.3%
|-
| [[Belarusians]] 
|4,529|| 0.8%
|-
| [[Tatars]] 
|3,328|| 0.6%
|-
| [[Azerbaijanis]] 
|3,132|| 0.5%
|-
| [[Sami people|Sami]]
|1,363|| 0.2%
|-
| Other Ethnicities
| 32,015|| 5.7%
|-
| Ethnicity not stated 
| 94,503|| –
|}

'''Vital statistics for 2024:<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 February 2025 |title=Естественное движение населения в разрезе субъектов российской федерации за декабрь 2024 года |url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/EDN_12-2024.htm |access-date=25 February 2025 |website=Rosstat}}</ref>'''
*Births: 5,108 (7.8 per 1,000)
*Deaths: 8,068 (12.3 per 1,000)

'''Total fertility rate (2024):<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-25 |title=Рейтинг рождаемости в регионах: кто в лидерах, а кто в аутсайдерах {{!}} Москва |url=https://fedpress.ru/article/3365231 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=ФедералПресс |language=ru-RU}}</ref>'''<br />
1.38 children per woman

'''Life expectancy (2021):'''<ref name="rosstat">{{cite web|url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/folder/210/document/13207 |title=Демографический ежегодник России |publisher=[[Federal State Statistics Service (Russia)|Federal State Statistics Service of Russia]] (Rosstat) |access-date=2022-06-01 |language=ru |trans-title=The Demographic Yearbook of Russia}}</ref>  <br />
Total — 68.29 years (male&nbsp;— 63.72, female&nbsp;— 72.85)

In 2009, the urban areas were marked by natural population decline (−0.16% per year) and the rural areas were marked by natural population growth (+0.35% per year).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://murmanskstat.gks.ru/moinfigures/population/demography/basicindicators/06.htm |title=Миграция населения по потокам |access-date=2011-04-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822182045/http://murmanskstat.gks.ru/moinfigures/population/demography/basicindicators/06.htm |archive-date=August 22, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Bar box
|title=Religion in Murmansk Oblast 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|41.7}}
{{Bar percent|Other [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]]|MediumOrchid|1.1}}
{{Bar percent|Other [[Christianity in Russia|Christians]]|DeepSkyBlue|3.7}}
{{Bar percent|[[Islam in Russia|Islam]]|Green|1}}
{{Bar percent|[[Spiritual but not religious]]|DarkSlateGray|28.4}}
{{Bar percent|[[Atheism]] and [[irreligion]]|Black|11.7}}
{{Bar percent|Other and undeclared|Gray|12.4}}
}}

According to a 2012 survey<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas" /> 41.7% of the population of Murmansk Oblast adheres to the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], 3% are [[nondenominational Christianity|unaffiliated]] generic [[Christians]], 1% are Orthodox Christian believers who do not belong to any church or are members of other (non-Russian) [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox church]]es, 1% are adherents of [[Islam]], 0.4% are adherents of [[Rodnovery]] (Slavic native faith) and other indigenous folk religions, and 1% are members of the [[Catholic Church]]. In addition, 28% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 12% is [[atheism|atheist]], and 12.5% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.<ref name="2012ArenaAtlas" />
{{clear}}

== Economy ==
The Murmansk Oblast is very rich in natural resources and has deposits of over 700 minerals.<ref name="fas">{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/industry/docs/mark0241.htm|title=Overview of Murmansk Region|publisher=Federation of American Scientists|access-date=2009-06-05}}</ref> The main industries of the region are in the sphere of raw material extraction and basic processing.<ref name="globalsecurity">[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/murmansk-ob.htm Murmansk Oblast] Globalsecurity.org</ref> The largest industries are metallurgy (36,6%), electric power-production (22,9%) and food-industry, including fishing (13,7%).<ref name="amk">{{cite web|url=https://www.amk.fi/bin/get/id/5aBm9Nrfx|title=Murmansk region|publisher=Häme Polytechnic|access-date=2009-06-05|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720175523/https://www.amk.fi/bin/get/id/5aBm9Nrfx|archive-date=July 20, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref name="rustradeuk">{{cite web|url=http://www.rustradeuk.org/cooperation/rusregion/about_regions/files/Murmansk_region.ppt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174021/http://www.rustradeuk.org/cooperation/rusregion/about_regions/files/Murmansk_region.ppt|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=Murmansk Region|access-date=2009-06-05}}</ref> The icefree port of Murmansk plays an important role in marine transportation in Russia, and the oblast has a 41% share of the total Russian marine transport market.<ref name="barentsinfo" /><ref name="economyreport">[http://img.custompublish.com/getfile.php/618220.623.vbftubsawf/Barents+Review.Economic+Development+in+the+Murmansk+Region.pdf Economic Development in the Murmansk Region in 2007]</ref> The fishing industry is among the most profitable in the region, supplying 16% of Russia's total fish production. Murmansk is a key base for three fishing fleets, including Russia's largest, the [[Murmansk Trawl Fleet]].<ref name="globalsecurity" />
[[File:Monchegorsk factories.jpg|thumb|A [[Norilsk Nickel]] plant (formerly, [[Severonikel]]) in [[Monchegorsk]]]]

The economy of the region is export-oriented. Main export items are nickel products, [[apatite]] concentrate, copper and copper products, aluminium and ferrous metals.<ref name="barentsinfo">{{cite web|url=http://www.barentsinfo.org/?newsid=8370&deptid=13875&languageid=4&news=1|title=Non-working link message – Barentsinfo|work=barentsinfo.org|access-date=January 26, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Murmansk Region produces almost 100 percent of Russia's apatite concentrate (3.7 million tons in 1998), 43 percent of nickel, 15 percent of copper, 12 percent of iron ore and iron ore concentrate (17.7 million and 6.4 million tons in 1998), and 40 percent of cobalt.<ref name="fas" /><ref name="amk" />
{{Further|Western Zhdanovskoye mine}}

The largest companies of the region – constituting 90% of the oblast's production – are [[Pechenganickel]], [[Olcon]], the [[Kola Nuclear Power Plant]], [[Sevrybkholodflot]], [[Murmanrybprom]], [[Murmansk Trawl Fleet]] and [[Murmansk Shipping Company]].<ref name="fas" />

Large oil and gas resources have been discovered on the shelf of the Barents sea, including the massive [[Shtokman field]] – one of the world's largest gas fields with estimated reserves of 3.8 trillion cubic meters.<ref name="fas" /><ref name="economyreport" /><ref name="reuters_gas">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/gazprom-shtokman-idUSL1589543420071115|title=UPDATE 1-Russia's Gazprom ups Shtokman reserves to 3.8 tcm|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=January 26, 2017|newspaper=Reuters}}</ref> Prospective oil fields could potentially yield up to 40 million tons in the next 10–15 years.<ref name="fas" /> However, the development of the oil and gas resources will require considerable investment.<ref name="fas" />

In 2006, the Murmansk Oblast's [[gross regional product]] was 141.9 billion rubles, which amounts to about 0.4% of the Russian GDP.<ref name="barentsinfo" /> Unemployment in 2006 was 3,4%.<ref name="barentsinfo" /> GRP per capita in 2007 was 225,044 rubles.<ref name="grpc2007">[http://www.gks.ru/bgd/free/b01_19/IssWWW.exe/Stg/d000/dusha98-07.htm Валовой региональный продукт на душу населения] Федеральная служба государственной статистики</ref> Regional automobile code is 51.

=== Transport ===
* Airports in [[Murmansk Airport|Murmansk]] (international), [[Kirovsk–Apatity Airport|Kirovsk]], Kandalaksha, [[Severomorsk-3 (air base)|Severomorsk]] (military), [[Lovozero (air base)|Lovozero]] (military), Ponoy, and Krasnoshchelye (small planes and helicopters).
* Strategic [[Oktyabrskaya Railway]] which connects Murmansk with [[Saint-Petersburg]] and central [[Russia]]. Main stations are Murmansk, Olenegorsk, Kandalaksha. There is also important shoulder to [[Nikel]], the [[Murmansk-Nikel Railway]].
* Local one-way railways
* Sea routes to small military towns and naval bases on [[Murman Coast]] (Ostrovnoy, Svyatoy Nos).
* Automobile roads

== Military ==
The Murmansk Oblast plays an important role for the [[Russian Navy]], the [[Northern Fleet]] having its headquarters in [[Severomorsk]], 25&nbsp;km north of Murmansk. The Navy has several other bases and shipyards in the Murmansk Oblast.

The [[200th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade]] is stationed at [[Pechenga (urban-type settlement), Murmansk Oblast|Pechenga]].

== See also ==
* [[Barents Region]]
* [[Lake Chudzyavr]]
* [[Lake Kildinskoye]]

== References ==
[[File:Краснощелье.jpg|thumb|In [[Krasnoshchelye]], a village on the [[Ponoy River]]]]

=== Notes ===
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{notelist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{RussiaBasicLawRef|mur}}
* {{Cite Soviet law
|ru_entity=Президиум Верховного Совета СССР
|ru_type=Указ
|ru_date=28 мая 1938 г.
|ru_title=Об образовании Мурманской области
|ru_published_in="Ведомости Верховного Совета СССР", №7
|ru_published_date=1938
|ru_url=
|en_entity=[[Presidium of the Supreme Soviet]] of the USSR
|en_type=Decree
|en_date=May&nbsp;28, 1938
|en_title=On Establishing Murmansk Oblast
|en_url=
}}
* {{Cite book|last=Министерство транспорта Российской Федерации. Федеральное агенство геодезии и картографии|title=Мурманская область. Атлас|publisher=ФГУП "Геодезия"|year=2007|location=Санкт-Петербург}}
* {{Cite book|last=Ratcliffe|first=Derek A.|title=Lapland: A Natural History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h1dUNTaRL24C|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2005|isbn=0-300-11553-9}}
* Wm. O. Field, Jr. ''The Kola Peninsula. Gibraltar of the Western Arctic''. ''The American Quarterly on the Soviet Union''. July 1938. Vol.&nbsp;I, No.&nbsp;2.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Murmansk Oblast}}
* [http://www.gov-murman.ru/ Official website of Murmansk Oblast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127032238/http://www.gov-murman.ru/ |date=November 27, 2020 }} {{in lang|ru}}
*[https://murmansk.jsprav.ru/ Directory of organizations in Murmansk] {{in lang|ru}}

{{Subdivisions of Russia}}
{{Murmansk Oblast}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Murmansk Oblast| ]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1938]]
[[Category:Fennoscandia]]
[[Category:1938 establishments in Russia]]