The Komi Republic is a constituent entity of the Russian Federation and part of the Northwestern Federal District. It was founded on August 22, 1921. Its capital is Syktyvkar.
The republic is located in the extreme north-east of the European part of Russia. Its total area is 416,800 square kilometres (2.4% of Russia's territory).
The region has 211 municipalities, including five urban districts, 15 municipal districts, 16 towns and 175 villages.
The population is 951,100 (as of January 1, 2010), of which 75.9% is urban and 24.1 is rural. Population density per square kilometre is 2.3 persons.
The Komi Republic is inhabited by 130 ethnic groups. The ethnic composition is dominated by Russians (59.6%) and Komi (25.2%).
Most of the natural resource potential of the region is a territorial combination of mineral resources that is varied in terms of quality and conditions. Currently, the Komi Republic is one of the most important fuel and energy regions in Russia. It ranks first in bauxite, titanium and barite ore, and has significant resources of manganese and chromite ores.
The republic has about 40% of the timber reserves of European Russia. Key types of timber trees are spruce, pine and birch. Industrial use of timber includes a wide range of industries, from timber harvesting to production of pulp, paper and cardboard.
Industry is central to the region's economy, and the fuel and energy complex plays a leading role. Due to a harsh climate, agriculture in Komi is focused on the domestic consumer market, specialising in dairy and beef cattle breeding and cultivation of potatoes and vegetables.
Attracting new investment to the republic is done mainly through implementing projects aimed at modernising the structure of the economy, with an emphasis on the development of deep processing of raw materials in the timber and fuel industries, the creation of new companies in the mining complex and the development of transport infrastructure.
In 2010, the socio-economic development of the Komi Republic was characterised as fairly stable.
In January-August 2010, the industrial production index in the Komi Republic compared to the same period of 2009 was 100.0% (in January-August 2009, it was 96.8%).
Compared to January-August 2009, produced more coal, natural gas and associated, produced nonwovens, automotive gasoline, fuel oil, plywood, chipboard, fibreboard and paper. Production of meat, dairy products and alcoholic beverages has increased.
At the same time, there was a decrease in oil production, including gas condensate, as well as reduced production of diesel fuel, electricity, heat, linoleum, cement, precast concrete structures and parts, timber, cardboard, bread and baked goods.
For the first eight months of 2010, a total of 48,500 square metres of housing was built and commissioned in the republic. This is 13.3% less than in January-August 2009. Private housing construction added 25,200 square metres of housing, which is 9.2% less than in January-August 2009. There was 18,700 square metres of new housing built in rural areas, 16,700 square metres of which was detached houses.
In January-July 2010, the average monthly wage increased by 10.9% year on year in nominal terms and 5% in real terms, reaching 24,700 roubles.
The registered unemployment rate at the beginning of September 2010 on average in the republic was 2.3% (at the beginning of September 2009, it was 2.7%, and 2.9% in early 2010).