Orenburg Oblast (Russian: Оренбургская область, romanized: Orenburgskaya oblast') is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast), mainly located in Eastern Europe. Its administrative center is the city of Orenburg. From 1938 to 1957, it bore the name Chkalov Oblast (Russian: Чка́ловская о́бласть) in honor of Valery Chkalov. Population: 1,862,767 (2021 Census).

Geography

Orenburg Oblast's internal borders are with the republics of Bashkortostan and Tatarstan to the north, Chelyabinsk Oblast to the north-east, and with Samara and Saratov oblasts to the west. Orenburg Oblast also shares an international border with Kazakhstan to the east and south. The oblast is situated on the boundary between Europe and Asia. The majority of its territory lies west of the continental divide in European Russia and smaller sections in the east situated on the Asian side of the divide. The most important river of the oblast is the Ural and the largest lake Shalkar-Yega-Kara. Orenburg is traversed by the northeasterly line of equal latitude and longitude. The highest point of the oblast is the 668 m (2,192 ft)-high Nakas.

History

In the first half of the 18th century, the Russian Empire constructed the Irtysh line [ru], a series of forty-six forts, including Orenburg, to prevent Kazakh and Dzungar nomads from raiding Russian territory.

Orenburg played a major role in Pugachev's Rebellion (1773–1774), the largest peasant revolt in Russian history.

During the Russian Civil War, the region was heavily affected by the Russian famine of 1921–1922.

During World War II, in 1941, the command and staff of the newly formed Polish Anders' Army was based in Buzuluk, and in 1942, the First Czechoslovak Independent Field Battalion was based there. Both formations afterwards fought against Nazi Germany.

On 26 May 2024, a Ukrainian drone attacked the Voronezh M long-range radar station near Orsk.

Administrative divisions

Demographics

Population: 1,862,767 (2021 Census); 2,033,072 (2010 Russian census); 2,179,551 (2002 Census); 2,174,459 (1989 Soviet census).

Ethnic composition (2021)

Ethnic group	Population	Percentage
Russians	1,380,674	79.3%
Tatars	116,605	6.7%
Kazakhs	107,734	6.2%
Bashkirs	36,181	2.1%
Mordvins	18,300	1.1%
Ukrainians	16,639	1.0%
Others	65,056	3.7%
Ethnicity not stated	121,578	—

Vital statistics for 2022:

• Births: 16,216 (8.4 per 1,000)
• Deaths: 25,590 (13.3 per 1,000)

Total fertility rate (2022):
1.46 children per woman

Life expectancy (2021):
Total — 68.21 years (male — 63.91, female — 72.48)

Settlements

Religion

As of a 2012 survey, 40.2% of the population of Orenburg Oblast adheres to the Russian Orthodox Church, 3% declare themselves to be generic nondenominational Christians (excluding the Protestant definition), 2% are Orthodox Christian believers who do not belong to any church or belong to non-Russian Orthodox churches. Muslims constitute 13% of the population. 3% of the population are followers of the Slavic native faith (Rodnovery), 6.8% are followers of other religions or did not give an answer to the survey. In addition, 20% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious" and 12% to be atheist.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1897	1,600,145	—
1926	1,492,211	−6.7%
1939	1,675,000	+12.2%
1959	1,829,481	+9.2%
1970	2,049,976	+12.1%
1979	2,088,553	+1.9%
1989	2,174,459	+4.1%
2002	2,179,551	+0.2%
2010	2,033,072	−6.7%
2021	1,862,767	−8.4%
Source: Census data

Economy

Orenburg Oblast is one of the major agricultural areas of Russia. Its climate is favorable to farming with a humid spring, dry summer and many sunny days, which make perfect conditions for cultivating hard wheat and rye, sunflowers, potatoes, peas, beans, corn, and gourds.

The range of the oblast's export commodities includes oil and oil products, gas and gas produced products, rolled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, nickel, asbestos, chromium compounds, rough copper, electric engines, and radiators, which are used to make products from the machine-building industry.

See also

• Ashchebutak (air base)
• List of Chairmen of the Legislative Assembly of Orenburg Oblast
• Black Dolphin Prison