View source for Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

{{Short description|First-level administrative division of Russia}}
{{Other uses|Chukotka (disambiguation){{!}}Chukotka}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox Russian federal subject
|en_name=Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
|ru_name=Чукотский автономный округ
|image_map=Map of Russia (2014–2022) - Chukotka Autonomous Okrug (disputed Crimea).svg
|coordinates = {{coord|66|40|N|171|00|E|type:adm1st_region:RU-CHU|display=inline,title}}
|image_coa=Coat of Arms of Chukotka.svg
|image_flag=Flag of Chukotka.svg
|anthem=[[Anthem of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug]]
|political_status=Autonomous okrug
|political_status_link=Autonomous okrugs of Russia
|federal_district=[[Far Eastern Federal District|Far Eastern]]
|economic_region=[[Far Eastern economic region|Far Eastern]]
|adm_ctr_type=Administrative center
|adm_ctr_name=[[Anadyr (town)|Anadyr]]
|pop_2021census=47490
|pop_2021census_rank=82nd
|urban_pop_2010census=68.2%
|rural_pop_2010census=31.8%
|pop_2021census_ref=<ref name=2021census>{{cite web|title=Оценка численности постоянного населения по субъектам Российской Федерации|url=https://rosstat.gov.ru/storage/mediabank/tab-5_VPN-2020.xlsx|publisher=[[Federal State Statistics Service (Russia)|Federal State Statistics Service]]|accessdate=1 September 2022}}</ref>
|pop_latest=50540
|pop_latest_date=January 2015
|pop_latest_ref=<ref name="2015Est">Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Territorial Branch of the [[Russian Federal State Statistics Service|Federal State Statistics Service]]. [http://chukotstat.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/chukotstat/resources/d0dfc58047f52ced95ddb5ed3bc4492f/%D0%A7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.doc Численность населения Чукотского автономного округа] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111552/http://chukotstat.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_ts/chukotstat/resources/d0dfc58047f52ced95ddb5ed3bc4492f/%D0%A7%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F.doc |date=27 April 2015 }} {{in lang|ru}}</ref>
|area_km2=721481
|area_km2_rank=7th
|established_date=10 December 1930
|established_date_ref=<ref name="Established">Resolution of 10 December 1930.</ref>
|license_plates=87
|ISO=RU-CHU
|leader_title=[[Governor of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Governor]]
|leader_title_ref=<ref name="HeadTitle">Charter of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Article&nbsp;40</ref>
|leader_name=[[Vladislav Kuznetsov]]
|leader_name_ref=<ref name="governor">{{Cite web|date=15 March 2023|title=Putin appointed an official from the "LPR" as the head of Chukotka|url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/03/15/putin-naznachil-chinovnika-iz-lnr-glavoi-chukotki-news|access-date=15 March 2023|website=Novaya Gazeta Europe|language=ru}}</ref>
|legislature=[[Duma of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Duma]]
|legislature_ref=<ref name="Legis">Charter of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Article&nbsp;27</ref>
|website=[https://чукотка.рф чукотка.рф]
|loc_name1= Чукоткакэн автономныкэн округ
|loc_lang1=Chukchi
|languages=[[Chukchi language|Chukchi]]
}}

'''Chukotka''' ({{IPAc-en|tʃ|ʊ|ˈ|k|ɒ|t|k|ə}} {{respell|chuu-KOT-kə}}; {{langx|ru|Чукотка}} {{IPA|ru|tɕʊˈkotkə|}}), officially the '''Chukotka Autonomous Okrug''',{{refn|group=note|{{bulleted list|{{lang-rus|Чукотский автономный округ|r=Čukotskij avtonomnyj okrug|p=tɕʊˈkotskʲɪj ɐftɐˈnomnɨj ˈokrʊk}}|{{langx|ckt|Чукоткакэн автономныкэн округ|Cukotkaken awtonomnyken okrug}}, {{IPA|ckt|tɕukotˈkaken awtoˈnomnəken ˈokɻ̊ux|IPA}}}}}} is the easternmost [[federal subjects of Russia|federal subject]] of [[Russia]]. It is an [[Autonomous okrugs of Russia|autonomous okrug]] situated in the [[Russian Far East]]. It shares a border with the [[Sakha Republic]] to the west, [[Magadan Oblast]] to the south-west, and [[Kamchatka Krai]] to the south, as well as a [[Maritime boundary|maritime border]] on the [[Bering Strait]] with the [[U.S. state]] of [[Alaska]] to the east. [[Anadyr (town)|Anadyr]] is the largest [[types of inhabited localities in Russia|town]] and the [[administrative center|capital]], and the easternmost settlement to have town status in Russia. It is the closest point from Russia to the United States, measuring at 88.51 kilometres or 55 miles.

Chukotka is primarily populated by ethnic [[Russians]], [[Chukchi people|Chukchi]], and other [[Indigenous peoples of Siberia|indigenous peoples]]. It is the only autonomous okrug in Russia that is not included in, or subordinate to, another federal subject, having separated from [[Magadan Oblast]] in 1992. It is home to [[Lake Elgygytgyn]], an [[impact crater]] lake, and [[Anyuyskiy]], an extinct volcano. The village of [[Uelen]] is the easternmost settlement in Russia and the closest substantial settlement to the United States ([[Alaska]]).

The autonomous okrug covers an area of over {{convert|737700|km2|sp=us}}, and is the seventh-largest federal subject in Russia. However, it has a population of only 50,526.<ref name="2010Census">{{ru-pop-ref|2010Census}}</ref> Chukotka is the second-least-populated federal subject, and the [[List of federal subjects of Russia by population|least densely populated]] federal subject in Russia. The region is the northeasternmost region of Russia, and since the [[Alaska Purchase|sale of Alaska]] in 1867, it has been the only part of Russia lying partially in the [[Western Hemisphere]].

==Geography==
[[File:Northern Chukotka.JPG|thumb|left|Frozen [[wilderness]] of far northern Chukotka]]

Chukotka is bordered in the north by the [[Chukchi Sea]] and the [[East Siberian Sea]], which are part of the [[Arctic Ocean]]; in the east by the [[Bering Strait]] and the [[Bering Sea]], part of the [[Pacific Ocean]]; in the south by [[Kamchatka Krai]] and [[Magadan Oblast]]; and in the west by the [[Sakha Republic]]. The [[Chukchi Peninsula]] projects eastward forming the Bering Strait between Siberia and the [[Alaska Peninsula]], and encloses the north side of the [[Gulf of Anadyr]]. The peninsula's easternmost point, [[Cape Dezhnev]], is also the easternmost point of mainland Russia.

Ecologically, Chukotka can be divided into three distinct areas: the northern [[Arctic]] desert, the central [[tundra]], and the [[taiga]] in the south. About half of its area is above the [[Arctic Circle]]. This area is very mountainous, containing the [[Chukotsky Mountains]] (highest point [[Iskhodnaya]]) and the [[Anadyr Highlands]].

Chukotka's rivers spring from its northern and central mountains. The major rivers are:
*[[Anadyr River]], with tributaries [[Belaya River (Chukotka)|Belaya]], [[Tanyurer River|Tanyurer]], [[Yablon (river)|Yablon]], [[Yeropol]], [[Mayn]] and [[Velikaya River (Chukotka)|Velikaya]] rivers, as well as the [[Avtatkuul River]], which flows across the [[Anadyr Lowlands]] into the [[Gulf of Anadyr]].
*[[Omolon River|Omolon]] and the [[Bolshoy Anyuy River|Great]] and [[Malyi Anyui River|Little Anyuy]] Rivers flow west into the [[Kolyma River]] in Yakutia ([[Sakha Republic|Sakha]]).
*[[Rauchua River|Rauchua]], [[Chaun River|Chaun]], [[Palyavaam River|Palyavaam]], [[Pegtymel River|Pegtymel]], [[Chegitun River|Chegitun]] and [[Amguyema River|Amguyema]] Rivers that flow north into the arctic seas.

The largest lakes are [[Lake Krasnoye (Chukotka)|Lake Krasnoye]], west of Anadyr, [[Lake Pekulney]] and [[Lake Elgygytgyn]] in central Chukotka. Other important lakes are [[Koolen (lake)|Koolen]], [[Ioni|Lake Ioni]], [[Pychgynmygytgyn]], [[Medvezhye (Chukotka Autonomous Okrug)|Medvezhye]], [[Achchyon]] and [[Maynits]].

The okrug's extensive coastline has several peninsulas, the main ones being the [[Kyttyk Peninsula]], [[Cape Shelagsky]], the [[Aachim Peninsula]], the [[Chukchi Peninsula]] and [[Russkaya Koshka]].

There are also several islands belonging to Chukotka, from west to east the main ones being [[Ayon Island]], Ryyanranot Island, Chengkuul Island, Mosey Island, the [[Routan Islands]], [[Shalaurov Island]], [[Wrangel Island]], [[Herald Island (Arctic)|Herald Island]], [[Kosa Dvukh Pilotov Island]], [[Karkarpko Island]], [[Kolyuchin Island]], [[Serykh Gusey Islands]], [[Idlidlya Island]], [[Big Diomede Island]], [[Ilir Island]], [[Arakamchechen Island]], [[Yttygran Island]], Merokinkan Island, Achinkinkan Island and Kosa Meechkyn Island.

Large parts of Chukotka are covered with moss, lichen, and arctic plants, similar to western Alaska. Surrounding the Gulf of Anadyr and in the river valleys grow small larch, pine, birch, poplar, and willow trees. More than 900 species of plants grow in Chukotka, including 400 species of moss and lichen. It is home to 220 bird species and 30 fresh water fish species.<ref>WWF International, ''The Bering Sea Ecoregion, Chukotka's Natural Heritage at a Glance'' ({{cite web |url= http://assets.panda.org/downloads/chukotka_brochure.pdf |title= online version |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001657/http://assets.panda.org/downloads/chukotka_brochure.pdf |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |df= mdy-all }})</ref>

===Climate===
Chukotka's climate is influenced by its location on the three neighboring seas: the [[Bering Sea]], the [[East Siberian Sea]], and the [[Chukchi Sea]] with its weather characterized by cold northerly winds that can quickly change to wet southern winds. Cape Navarin has the highest number of hurricanes and storms in Russia. The coastal areas are windy with little precipitation, between {{cvt|200|and|400|mm}} per year. Temperature varies between {{cvt|-45|and|-15|C}} in January, and between {{convert|+5|and|+14|C}} in July. Growing season is short, lasting only 80 to 100 days per year.

==History==
{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2024}}

===Pre-history===
The first inhabitants were Paleo-Siberian hunters who came to Chukotka from Central and East Asia. The area was then part of the [[Beringia]] land bridge that is thought to have enabled [[human migration]] to the Americas.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}

===Pre-Russian===
Traditionally, Chukotka was the home of the native [[Chukchi people]], [[Siberian Yupik]]s, [[Koryaks]], [[Chuvans]], [[Evens]]/[[Lamuts]], [[Yukaghir]]s, and [[Inuit]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} As of 1930, the population was primarily Chukchi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-10 |title=Chukotka |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Chukotka |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Encyclopaedia Brittanica |language=en}}</ref>

===Russian exploration and conquest===
After the Russians conquered the [[Khanate of Kazan|Kazan]] and [[Astrakhan Khanate]]s in the 16th century, the trade routes to the Urals, Siberia, and Central Asia opened for travel and traders and [[Cossacks]] moved eastwards. The Cossacks built forts in strategic locations and subjected the indigenous people to the Tsar.
[[File:Kitchen-21-Russia-Chukotka-2823.jpg|thumb|right|An early (1773) map of Chukotka, showing the route of Dezhnyov expedition of 1648]]

During the first half of the 17th century, Russians reached the far north-east. In 1641, the first reference to [[Chukchi people]] was made by the Cossacks. In 1649, Russian explorer [[Semyon Dezhnyov]] explored the far north-eastern coast and established winter quarters on the upstream portion of the [[Anadyr River]] that became the fortified settlement of [[Anadyrsk]]. Dezhnyov tried to subjugate the Chukchi and exact tribute during the next ten years, but was mostly unsuccessful. Eventually, the fort was abandoned, because of the harsh northern conditions and lack of game animals for food.

At the end of the 17th century, the fort regained some importance when the sea route from Anadyrsk to Kamchatka was discovered. It was used as the staging base for expeditions to Kamchatka and all other forts and settlements were made subject to Anadyrsk. When the wealth of Kamchatka's natural resources was discovered, the Russian government started to give the far north-eastern region more serious attention. In 1725, Tsar [[Peter I of Russia|Peter the Great]] ordered [[Vitus Bering]] to explore Kamchatka and Afanasy Shestakov to lead a military expedition to subjugate the Chukchi. This expedition failed when the fleet suffered shipwreck and the survivors, including Shestakov, were killed by the Chukchi.

In 1731, [[Dmitry Pavlutsky]] tried again, aided by Cossacks, [[Yukaghir]]s, and [[Koryaks]] (indigenous Siberian tribes that were subjugated earlier). Pavlutsky sailed up the Anadyr River and destroyed the Chukchi garrison on the Arctic Ocean. His ruthless methods had some limited success in forcing tribute from some Chukchi. But in 1747, the Chukchi defeated the Russian regiment and killed Pavlutsky.

Realizing that the Chukchi could not easily be subjugated by military means, the Russians changed tactics and offered the Chukchi citizenship in the Russian Empire. A peace treaty was concluded in 1778 in which the Chukchi were exempted from paying [[yasak]].

That same year, British Captain [[James Cook]] made an exploration of Cape North (now [[Cape Schmidt]]) and [[Providence Bay, Siberia|Providence Bay]]. Anxious that other European powers would occupy the area, Tsaritsa [[Catherine II of Russia|Catherine II]] ordered the exploration and mapping of the area. Starting in 1785, an expedition led by [[Joseph Billings]] and [[Gavril Sarychev]] mapped the [[Chukchi Peninsula]], the west coast of [[Alaska]], and the [[Aleutian Islands]]. Then from 1821 to 1825, [[Ferdinand von Wrangel]] and [[Fyodor Matyushkin]] led expeditions along the coast of the [[East Siberian Sea]] and explored the [[Kolyma River|Kolyma]], [[Bolshoy Anyuy River|Great Anyuy]], and [[Maly Anyuy River|Little Anyuy]] Rivers.

===Western influence===
[[File:Choris, Tschuktschen.jpg|thumb|left|Painting of Chukchi by [[Louis Choris]], 1816]]

Chukotka remained mostly outside the control of the Russian Empire and consequently other foreign powers (American, British, Norwegian) began to hunt and trade in the area from about 1820 onwards. After the [[Alaska Purchase|sale of Alaska]] to the United States, American whalers and traders especially extended their activities into Chukotka and foreign influence reached its peak. By 1880, the Russians reacted by setting up coastal patrols to stop American ships and confiscate their property. And in 1888, the administrative region of Anadyr was created. Yet Russian control diminished again and around 1900, a large stream of foreigners entered Chukotka, lured to the region by the [[Klondike Gold Rush|Yukon gold rush]] in 1898.

In 1909, in order to keep the region within Russian control, two districts were created within the Anadyr Region: the districts of Anadyr and Chukotka. The Russian government granted concessions to foreign companies such as the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] and the US [[Northeast Siberia Company]], which was granted gold, iron, and graphite mining rights in the entire Chukotka between 1902 and 1912.

[[Wrangel Island]] in particular was subject to claims by the United States and Canada. In 1916, the Russians officially claimed the uninhabited island. But in 1921, Canadian [[Vilhjalmur Stefansson]] made a serious attempt to claim it for Canada by populating it and building a small settlement. Another contingent arrived in 1923 but a year later, the Soviets permanently conquered the island, removing the remaining inhabitants, and thereby ending all foreign influence.

===Soviet period===
Chukotka was subject to [[Collective farming|collectivization]] and resettlement of the indigenous people, but this process started later and was less extreme than in other parts of the Soviet Union.<ref>{{cite web |title=Корякский язык |url=https://lingsib.iea.ras.ru/ru/languages/koryak.shtml |publisher=UNESCO Moscow Office |access-date=1 March 2024 |language=Russian}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Хаковская |first1=Л.Н. |title=Коллективизация оленеводческих хозяйств Чукотки в 1940–х гг. |journal=Proceedings of III Всероссийская конференция, посвященная памяти А. П. Васьковского |date=2016 |pages=358–361 |url=https://elibrary.ru/download/elibrary_36463958_52428872.pdf |access-date=1 March 2024 |trans-title=Collectivization of Reindeer Husbandries in Chukotka through the 1940s |location=Magadan |language=Russian}}</ref>

When Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in 1941, everything was done to start [[tin]] production as quickly as possible in Chukotka. Mining rapidly developed, and this industry would become its economic base. Also during the war, geologists discovered large reserves of gold that would be mined in the 1950s.

The [[Chukotka National Okrug]] (later Autonomous Okrug) was created in 1930 and was originally subordinated to [[Far Eastern Krai]]. In 1932, [[Kamchatka Oblast]] was created within the Far Eastern Krai (later [[Khabarovsk Krai]]) and was given jurisdiction over Chukotka from 1932 to 1953. Since the formation of [[Magadan Oblast]] from the northern parts of Khabarovsk Krai in 1953, Chukotka was administratively subordinated to the region.

===Modern period===
[[File:Dmitry Medvedev in Chukotka 23 September 2008-7.jpg|thumb|Russian president [[Dmitry Medvedev]] in Chukotka, 2008]]

In 1991, Chukotka declared its separation to become a subject of the Russian Federation in its own right, a move that was confirmed by the [[Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation]] in 1993.

From 2001 to 2008, [[Roman Abramovich]] was the governor of Chukotka. He invested billions of [[Russian ruble|rubles]], including his own money, into the Chukotka economy by developing its infrastructure, schools, and housing. This has helped to double the GDP of the region and to more than triple the income of its residents.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4293684.stm|work=BBC News|title=What Abramovich may do with his money|date=29 September 2005|access-date=22 May 2010|first=Will|last=Smale|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406202704/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4293684.stm|archive-date=6 April 2009}}</ref> {{Failed verification|date=March 2025}} In 2004, Abramovich tried to resign from this position but was reappointed governor for another term by [[Vladimir Putin]].{{cn|date=March 2025}} In early July 2008, it was announced that President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] had accepted Abramovich's latest request to resign as governor of Chukotka. He had visited the region only once in 2008. In the period 2000–2006 the average salaries in Chukotka increased from about US$165 (€117/£100) per month in 2000 to US$826 (€588/£500) per month in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/abramovich-quits-job-in-siberia-to-spend-more-time-on-western-front-860003.html|title=Abramovich quits job in Siberia to spend more time on Western front|access-date=4 July 2008|author=Shaun Walker|date=4 July 2008|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent News and Media Limited|location=London|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202616/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/abramovich-quits-job-in-siberia-to-spend-more-time-on-western-front-860003.html|archive-date=5 July 2008}}</ref>

On 11 July 2008, Dmitry Medvedev nominated [[Roman Kopin]] to be the governor. On 13 July, the local legislators unanimously confirmed Kopin as the next governor of Chukotka.{{cn|date=December 2020}} As of 2023, [[Vladislav Kuznetsov]] is the current governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

==Economy==
Chukotka has large reserves of [[Petroleum|oil]], [[natural gas]], [[coal]], [[gold]], and [[tungsten]], which are slowly being mined, but much of the rural population survives on subsistence [[reindeer]] herding, whale [[hunting]], and [[fishing]]. The urban population is employed in [[mining]], administration, construction, cultural work, education, medicine, and other occupations.

The largest companies in the region include Chukotka Mining and Geological Company ([[Highland Gold]]), Severnoye zoloto, Mayskoye Gold Mining Company ([[Polymetal International|Polymetal]]), [[Federal state unitary enterprise|FSUE]] Chukotsnab.<ref name="regioncompanies">{{cite web |script-title=ru:Выписки ЕГРЮЛ и ЕГРИП, проверка контрагентов, ИНН и КПП организаций, реквизиты ИП и ООО |url=https://saby.ru/profile?p=companies |website=Saby |access-date=20 October 2018 |language=ru}}</ref>  In April 2022, Kinross announced that it was selling 100% of its Russian assets following other international companies obliged to exit the [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russian]] economy.

==Transportation==
[[File:Uelen beach.jpg|thumb|265x265px|[[Uelen]] on the [[Arctic Ocean]] is the [[Extreme points of Russia|easternmost settlement in Russia]] and the whole of [[Eurasia]].]]
Chukotka is mostly roadless and air travel is the main mode of passenger transport. There are local permanent roads between some settlements (e.g. [[Egvekinot]]-[[Iultin]] ({{cvt|200.|km}})). When cold enough, [[winter road]]s are constructed on the frozen rivers to connect regional settlements in a uniform network.  The [[Anadyr Highway]] is under construction to link Chukotka to [[Magadan]], and to connect the settlements of Anadyr, [[Bilibino]], [[Komsomolsky, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Komsomolsky]] and Egvekinot within Chukotka.

In 2009, replacement of [[Bridge through Loren|the emergency bridge through Loren River]] on the busy local road from [[Lavrentiya]] to [[Lorino, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Lorino]] ({{cvt|40|km}}) became the main event in transport in Chukotka.

The main airport is [[Ugolny Airport]] near [[Anadyr (town)|Anadyr]]. Coastal shipping also takes place, but ice prevents this for at least half the year.

==Local government==
The legislative (representative) body of state power is the [[Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug]]. It consists of 15 deputies elected for a term of 5 years. As of 2016, it is represented by three factions: [[United Russia]], [[LDPR]], and [[CPRF]].

===Governor===
The current [[governor]] of Chukotka is Vladislav Kuznetsov, who replaced [[Roman Kopin]] on 15 March 2023. Kuznetsov previously served as deputy prime minister of the unrecognized [[Luhansk People's Republic]].<ref name="governor"/>

The governor is elected by universal suffrage for a term of 5 years.<ref>[https://constitution.garant.ru/region/ustav_chukot/ Устав Чукотского автономного округа]</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Закон Чукотского автономного округа «О порядке проведения выборов Губернатора Чукотского автономного округа» |trans-title=Law of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug "On the procedure for holding elections of the Governor of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug" |url=http://www.chukot.izbirkom.ru/etc/58_oz_gubernator.doc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101060431/http://www.chukot.izbirkom.ru/etc/58_oz_gubernator.doc |archive-date=2013-11-01}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
 !colspan=2 |Governors of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
 |-
 |1991–2000
 |[[Aleksandr Nazarov]]
 |-
 |2000–2008
 |[[Roman Abramovich]]
 |-
 |2008–2023
 |[[Roman Kopin]]
 |-
 |2023 – present
 |[[Vladislav Kuznetsov]]
 |}

[[Roman Abramovich]] was governor of Chukotka from 2000 to 2008. Abramovich had spent over [[US$]]1 billion in the region (partly as normal tax payments) on developing infrastructure and providing direct aid to the inhabitants<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4293684.stm What Abramovich may do with his money]  ''[[BBC News]]'', 29 September 2005</ref> during his time as governor from 2000 until 2008. In 2004, there were also reports, however, that Chukotka gave Abramovich's company [[Sibneft]] tax breaks in excess of US$450 million.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3735971.stm Abramovich region found bankrupt] ''[[BBC News]]'', 21 May 2004</ref>

On 13 July 2008, the deputies of the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, during a secret ballot, unanimously approved [[Roman Kopin]] as governor, whose candidacy was submitted for consideration to the Duma of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug on 11 July 2008 by [[Russian president]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] in connection with the early resignation of Abramovich. On 8 September 2013, Kopin was elected governor.

On 15 March 2023, [[Vladislav Kuznetsov]] replaced Kopin as the governor of Chukotka.<ref>{{cite news |title=Путин назначил чиновника из «ЛНР» главой Чукотки |url=https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/03/15/putin-naznachil-chinovnika-iz-lnr-glavoi-chukotki-news |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=Новая газета Европа |date=15 March 2023}}</ref>[[File:Chukotka-Chaunsky rayon.PNG|thumb|Districts of Chukotka. [[Chaunsky District]] and [[Anadyr (town)|Anadyr town]] highlighted.]][[File:Egvekinot-large.jpg|thumb|View of [[Egvekinot]]]]
[[File:Певек, 5-ый микрорайон.jpg|thumb|[[Pevek]]]]
[[File:Bilibinsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia - panoramio (215).jpg|thumb|[[Bilibinsky District]] in Chukotka]]

==Administrative divisions==
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug}}
Chukotka Autonomous Okrug is administratively divided into the following [[raion|districts]]:

Along the Arctic coast (from west to east): [[Bilibinsky District]] (northwest), [[Chaunsky District]] around Chaunskaya Bay, then [[Iultinsky District]], and finally [[Chukotsky District]] at the eastern cape.

Along the Pacific coast (from north to south): [[Providensky District]] south of Chukotsky, southern Iultinsky District around Kresta Bay, and finally eastern [[Anadyrsky District]] at the Anadyr Estuary.

Interior: The western quarter of the Okrug is Bilibinsky District, and the rest of the interior is Anadyrsky District.

==Demographics==
'''Population''': {{ru-census|p2021=47,490|p2010=50,526|p2002=53,824|p1989=157,528}}
The Chukotka Autonomous Okrug is one of the very few places in Russia where there are more men than women.

Source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_main/rosstat/ru/statistics/publications/catalog/doc_1137674209312 |title=Каталог публикаций::Федеральная служба государственной статистики |access-date=27 May 2013 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224183858/http://www.gks.ru/wps/wcm/connect/rosstat_main/rosstat/ru/statistics/publications/catalog/doc_1137674209312%20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Vital statistics===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!
! style="width:70pt;"|Average population
! style="width:70pt;"|Live births
! style="width:70pt;"|Deaths
! style="width:70pt;"|Natural change
! style="width:70pt;"|Crude birth rate (per 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Crude death rate (per 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Natural change (per 1000)
! style="width:70pt;"|Fertility rates
|-
| '''1970'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 103,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,751
| style="text-align:right;"| 599
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,152
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.2
| rowspan="23" |
|-
| '''1975'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 124,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,113
| style="text-align:right;"| 627
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,486
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.0
|-
| '''1980'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 143,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,208
| style="text-align:right;"| 653
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,555
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.9
|-
| '''1985'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 154,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,659
| style="text-align:right;"| 627
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,032
| style="text-align:right;"| 17.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.2
|-
| '''1990'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 160,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 2,208
| style="text-align:right;"| 598
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,610
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.1
|-
| '''1991'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 153,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,912
| style="text-align:right;"| 631
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,281
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.4
|-
| '''1992'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 136,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,565
| style="text-align:right;"| 763
| style="text-align:right;"| 802
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 5.9
|-
| '''1993'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 118,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,191
| style="text-align:right;"| 907
| style="text-align:right;"| 284
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 7.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.4
|-
| '''1994'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 104,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,153
| style="text-align:right;"| 884
| style="text-align:right;"| 269
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.6
|-
| '''1995'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 90,000
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 935
| style="text-align:right;"| 816
| style="text-align:right;"| 119
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.3
|-
| '''1996'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 81,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 816
| style="text-align:right;"| 119
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.5
|-
| '''1997'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 75,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 818
| style="text-align:right;"| 598
| style="text-align:right;"| 220
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.9
|-
| '''1998'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 70,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 855
| style="text-align:right;"| 612
| style="text-align:right;"| 243
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.5
|-
| '''1999'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 64,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 672
| style="text-align:right;"| 530
| style="text-align:right;"| 142
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 8.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.2
|-
| '''2000'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 60,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 686
| style="text-align:right;"| 570
| style="text-align:right;"| 116
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.9
|-
| '''2001'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 56,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 719
| style="text-align:right;"| 701
| style="text-align:right;"| 18
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 0.3
|-
| '''2002'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 54,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 653
| style="text-align:right;"| 611
| style="text-align:right;"| 42
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 0.8
|-
| '''2003'''
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 53,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 679
| style="text-align:right;"| 562
| style="text-align:right;"| 117
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.2
|-
| '''2004'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 787
| style="text-align:right;"| 623
| style="text-align:right;"| 164
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.1
|-
| '''2005'''
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | 52,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 795
| style="text-align:right;"| 597
| style="text-align:right;"| 198
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.2
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.8
|-
| '''2006'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 771
| style="text-align:right;"| 585
| style="text-align:right;"| 186
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.3
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.6
|-
| '''2007'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 801
| style="text-align:right;"| 595
| style="text-align:right;"| 206
| style="text-align:right;"| 15.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.0
|-
| '''2008'''
| rowspan="7" style="text-align:right;" | 51,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 751
| style="text-align:right;"| 620
| style="text-align:right;"| 131
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.5
|-
| '''2009'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 695
| style="text-align:right;"| 640
| style="text-align:right;"| 55
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 12.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.67
|-
| '''2010'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 746
| style="text-align:right;"| 698
| style="text-align:right;"| 48
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 0.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.89
|-
| '''2011'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 688
| style="text-align:right;"| 560
| style="text-align:right;"| 128
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.81
|-
| '''2012'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 711
| style="text-align:right;"| 580
| style="text-align:right;"| 131
| style="text-align:right;"| 14.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 11.4
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 2.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 1.97
|-
| '''2013'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 662
| style="text-align:right;"| 533
| style="text-align:right;"| 129
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.1
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.5
| style="text-align:right;" | 1.91
|-
| '''2014'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 690
| style="text-align:right;"| 551
| style="text-align:right;"| 139
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.7
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.8
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.04
|-
| '''2015'''
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" | 50,000
| style="text-align:right;"| 683
| style="text-align:right;"| 485
| style="text-align:right;"| 198
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.5
| style="text-align:right;"| 9.6
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.9
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.10
|-
| '''2016'''
| style="text-align:right;"| 671
| style="text-align:right;"| 501
| style="text-align:right;"| 170
| style="text-align:right;"| 13.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 10.0
| style="text-align:right;"| 3.4
| style="text-align:right;"| 2.10(e)
|}
{{Historical populations|1897|12900|1926|13500|1939|21524|1959|46689|1970|101184|1979|132859|1989|157528|2002|53824|2010|50526|2021|47490|type=|footnote=Source: Census data}}

===Life expectancy===
{{See also|List of federal subjects of Russia by life expectancy#Official Russian data 2019||label 1=List of federal subjects of Russia by life expectancy}}
As of June 2022, Chukotka had the lowest [[life expectancy]] in Russia. This statistic varies greatly from year to year due to the region's relatively small population.<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=28 June 2022 |language=ru |trans-title=The Demographic Yearbook of Russia}}</ref><ref name="uiiss">{{cite web |url=https://www.fedstat.ru/indicator/31293 |title=Ожидаемая продолжительность жизни при рождении |website=Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System of Russia |access-date=28 June 2022 |language=ru |trans-title=Life expectancy at birth |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220124657/https://www.fedstat.ru/indicator/31293 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Life expectancy in Russian subject -Chukotka.png|thumb|left|300px|Life expectancy at birth in Chukotka <ref name="rosstat" /><ref name="uiiss" />]]
{{clear|left}}

===Ethnic groups===
According to the [[Russian Census (2021)|2021 Census]], the ethnic composition was:<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>
*[[Russians|Russian]] 54.2%
*[[Chukchis|Chukchi]] 28.3%
*[[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] 3.2%
*[[Yupik peoples|Yupik]] 3.1%
*[[Evens|Even]] 2.7%
*[[Chuvans|Chuvan]] 1.6%
*[[Kalmyks|Kalmyk]] 0.8%
*[[Tatars|Tatar]] 0.7%
*[[Buryats|Buryat]] 0.5%
*other groups of less than two hundred persons each

Historical figures are given below:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic<br />group
! colspan="2" | 1939 Census
! colspan="2" | 1959 Census
! colspan="2" | 1970 Census
! colspan="2" | 1979 Census
! colspan="2" | 1989 Census
! colspan="2" | 2002 Census
! colspan="2" | 2010 Census
! colspan="2" | 2021 Census<sup>1</sup>
|- style="background:#e0e0e0;"
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Chukchis]]
| rowspan="2" | 12,111
| rowspan="2" |56.2%
| rowspan="2" | 9,975
| rowspan="2" |21.4%
| rowspan="2" | 11,001
| rowspan="2" |10.9%
| rowspan="2" | 11,292
| rowspan="2" |8.1%
| 11,914
|7.3%
| 12,622
|24.0%
| 12,772
|26.7%
| 13,292
|28.3%
|-
|align="left"|  [[Chuvans]]
| 944
|0.6%
| 951
|1.8%
| 897
|1.9%
| 742
|1.6%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Yupik peoples|Yupik]]
| 800
|3.7%
| 1,064
|2.3%
| 1,149
|1.1%
| 1,278
|0.9%
| 1,452
|0.9%
| 1,534
|2.9%
| 1,529
|3.2%
| 1,460
|3.1%
|-
|align="left"|  [[Evens]]
| 817
|3.8%
| 820
|1.8%
| 1,061
|1.0%
| 969
|0.7%
| 1,336
|0.8%
| 1,407
|2.7%
| 1,392
|2.9%
| 1,285
|2.7%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Russians]]
| 5,183
|24.1%
| 28,318
|60.7%
| 70,531
|69.7%
| 96,424
|68.9%
| 108,297
|66.1%
| 27,918
|53.1%
| 25,068
|52.5%
| 25,503
|54.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Ukrainians]]
| 571
|2.7%
| 3,543
|7.6%
| 10,393
|10.3%
| 20,122
|14.4%
| 27,600
|16.8%
| 4,960
|9.4%
| 2,869
|6.0%
| 1,526
|3.2%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| Others
| 2,055
|9.5%
| 2,969
|6.4%
| 7,049
|7.0%
| 9,859
|7.0%
| 12,391
|7.6%
| 3,233
|6.1%
| 2,961	
|6.2%
| 3,236
|6.9%
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| All
| colspan="2"| 21,537
| colspan="2"| 46,689
| colspan="2"| 101,194
| colspan="2"| 139,944
| colspan="2"| 163,934
| colspan="2"| 53,824
| colspan="2"| 50,526
| colspan="2"| 47,490

|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="17"| <sup>1</sup> <small>446 people were registered from administrative databases, and could not declare an ethnicity. It is estimated that the proportion of ethnicities in this group is the same as that of the declared group.</small><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20120118103330/http://www.perepis-2010.ru/news/detail.php?ID=6936 ВПН-2010]}}</ref>
|}
There are 86 recognized ethnic groups in the okrug as of 2021. [[Indigenous peoples of Siberia|Indigenous peoples]] make up 37% of the total population.

Ethnographic maps shows the [[Yupik peoples]] as the indigenous population of some villages near [[Provideniya]],  [[Chuvans]] in the  Chuvanskoye village some {{cvt|100.|km}} west of [[Markovo, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Markovo]], the [[Evens]] in some inland areas, and the [[Chukchi people|Chukchi]] throughout the rest of the region.<ref>[http://www.npolar.no/ansipra/image/kart36.jpg Map 3.6 (Chukotskiy Avtonomnyi Okrug)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319083521/http://www.npolar.no/ansipra/image/kart36.jpg |date=19 March 2009 }} from the [http://www.npolar.no/ansipra/english/Indexpages/Maps_theme.html series prepared for the INSROP (International Northern Sea Route Programme) Working Paper No. 90] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721092046/http://www.npolar.no/ansipra/english/Indexpages/Maps_theme.html |date=21 July 2009 }} in 1997.</ref>

===Religion===
The [[Russian Orthodox Church]] in Chukotka is represented by the [[Eparchy]] (Diocese) of [[Diocese of Anadyr|Anadyr and Chukotka]] ({{langx|ru|Анадырская и Чукотская епархия}}). The controversial conservative Bishop of Anadyr and Chukotka, [[Diomid Dzyuban|Diomid]], who had occupied the Anadyr [[Episcopal see|see]] since 2000 and had been instrumental in the development of the church in the peninsula, was removed by the [[Most Holy Synod|Holy Synod]] in the summer of 2008. Diomid would later go on to establish a [[True Orthodox church|True Orthodox]] denomination in Chukotka, which has become largely inactive.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Солдатов |first1=Александр |title=Загадочная гибель «чукотского Савонаролы» |url=https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2021/11/22/zagadochnaia-gibel-chukotskogo-savonaroly |access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref> Diomid was succeeded by [[Mark (Tuzhikov)]] as he was the acting [[Archbishop]] of [[Khabarovsk]] at the time.

The current Russian Orthodox bishop of Chukotka is [[Ipaty (Golubev)]] who was installed on 21 August 2018.

There is also a small [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] presence in the city of [[Provideniya]], founded by the Moldovan community there.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bourdon |first1=Julie |title=Bringing light to a dark corner of Russia |url=https://www.mnnonline.org/news/bringing-light-dark-corner-russia/ |access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Bering Strait]]
* [[Chukchi Peninsula]]
* [[Wrangel Island]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
*{{Cite Russian law
|ru_entity=Дума Чукотского автономного округа
|ru_type=Закон
|ru_number=45-ОЗ
|ru_date=4 октября 2000 г.
|ru_title=О гимне Чукотского автономного округа
|ru_effective_date=со дня официального опубликования
|ru_published_in="Крайний Север", No.2 (1243)
|ru_published_date=12 января 2001 г
|ru_url=
|ru_amendment_type=Закона
|ru_amendment_number=99-ОЗ
|ru_amendment_date=7 ноября 2016 г
|ru_amendment_title=О внесении изменений в Закон Чукотского автономного округа "О гимне Чукотского автономного округа"
|en_entity=Duma of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
|en_type=Law
|en_number=45-OZ
|en_date=4 October 2000
|en_title=On the Anthem of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug
|en_effective_date=the day of official publication
|en_url=
|en_amendment_type=Law
|en_amendment_number=99-OZ
|en_amendment_date=7 November 2016
|en_amendment_title=On Amending the Law of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug "On the Anthem of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug"
}}
*{{RussiaBasicLawRef|chu}}
*{{Cite Soviet law
|ru_entity=Всероссийский центральный исполнительный комитет
|ru_type=Постановление
|ru_date=10 декабря 1930 г.
|ru_title=Об организации национальных объединений в районах расселения малых народностей Севера
|ru_effective_date=
|ru_published_in=
|ru_published_date=
|ru_url=
|en_entity=[[All-Russian Central Executive Committee]]
|en_type=Resolution
|en_date=10 December 1930
|en_title=On the Organization of the Ethnic Clusters in the Areas of Settlement of the Small-Numbered Peoples of the North
|en_effective_date=
|en_url=
}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
*Josh Newell, ''The Russian Far East. A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development'', 2004

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Chukotka}}

*[http://assets.panda.org/downloads/chukotka_brochure.pdf WWF Chukotka brochure]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050321023331/http://www.faculty.uaf.edu/ffpag/chukotka.html Chukotka page with images]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071211035433/http://www.chukotka.org/en/main/ Official website of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug] (archive)
*[http://www.chukotka.org/en Official website of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug]

{{Subdivisions of Russia}}
{{Chukotka Autonomous Okrug}}
{{Russian Far East}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Chukotka Autonomous Okrug| ]]
[[Category:Far Eastern Federal District]]
[[Category:Russian Far East]]
[[Category:Chukchi Sea]]
[[Category:East Siberian Sea]]
[[Category:Pacific Coast of Russia]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where Russian is an official language]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1930]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Road-inaccessible communities of Russia]]