Dynamics of ethnic identification of peoples of the Volga region in post-soviet Russia

The study of ethnostatistical data and their dynamics is of scientific interest and has important practical application in ethnically complex regions. In this regard, the Volga region is of great interest. The article analyzes the dynamics of the number of peoples of the Volga region over the past 30 years based on the results of the 1989 All-Union Census, as well as the 2002, 2010 and 2020/2021 All-Union Census. New ethnodemographic trends have been identified, which became characteristic of the Volga regions of the Russian Federation in the post-Soviet period. Our analysis of statistical data shows that ethnic groups in the region demonstrate a multidirectional dynamic of their numbers. A specific feature of the 2020/21 All-Union Census results for the whole country was a sharp increase in the proportion of people who did not indicate their ethnicity, which led to a significant reduction in the number of ethnic groups. The article lists the possible causes that led to this phenomenon.