If you asked the average person what the biggest city in Europe was, most people would probably guess Paris or London.
But they’d be wrong.
Moscow has 21.5 million people living in the Moscow Metropolitan Area. Far more than any other European city.
13 million live in the city itself (nearly 50% more than London) and a further 8.5 million live in the wider Moscow Oblast.
In fact only 8 European countries have a larger population:
- Russia (109 million in European part, 144 million total)
- Germany (84 million)
- UK (70 million)
- France (67 million)
- Italy (59 million)
- Spain (48 million)
- Ukraine (39 million)
- Poland (38 million)
Note Turkey has around 87 million people, but only 12 million or so live in the European part of the country.
Why is Moscow so big?
Moscow’s significantly larger population compared to other major European cities results from several historical, geographical, political, and economic reasons:
Historical Centralization
Political Capital: Moscow has served as Russia’s political centre for centuries. First under Tsarist Russia (until the capital moved to Saint Petersburg), and then the Soviet Union, and modern Russia, the city continuously attracted resources, businesses, and people.
Soviet-Era Urban Planning
Planned Urbanization: The Soviet Union implemented policies that concentrated economic, administrative, and educational institutions in Moscow, fueling large-scale migrations.
Economic Dominance
Economic Hub: Moscow remains Russia’s financial and industrial powerhouse. The city is headquarters to major Russian and international corporations, offering substantial employment opportunities, which naturally attracts internal migration.
Geographical Size and Expansion
Physical Expansion: Moscow covers an expansive territory, growing outward aggressively, incorporating surrounding towns and suburbs into its administrative boundaries, significantly boosting its population count.
Internal Migration
Attraction to Rural Population: Massive internal migration from rural areas and smaller cities, driven by better living standards, higher wages, and more extensive educational and career opportunities, continually boosts Moscow’s population.
Limited Alternative Mega-Cities in Russia
Singularity of Attraction: Unlike Western European countries, where multiple cities often share economic and political significance, Russia’s urban network is heavily centralized in Moscow, with few comparable alternatives in scale or influence.
Administrative Policies
Centralized Government: Russian governance remains highly centralized, encouraging both public and private sector entities to concentrate operations and workforce in Moscow.
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