This map provides one representation of the national composition of the Soviet Union in the early 1980s. As the distribution of colors indicates, each of the major ethnic groups occupied specific regions of the country. Although the different ethnicities were concentrated in specific regions, it is also clear that the entire country was multinational. The distribution of ethnic groups shown here indicates how difficult it was to manage the competing interests of these group in a large state like the Soviet Union.

To see the associated Teaching Module on Nationalities in the USSR, click here.

Central Intelligence Agency, "Soviet Union - Nationalities," (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1982), University of Texas (accessed May 6, 2008).