Russian Empire census

The first general census of the population of the Russian Empire in 1897 (Пе́рвая всео́бщая пе́репись населе́нія Россíйской импе́ріи 1897 го́да) was the first and only nation-wide census performed in the Russian Empire (excluding the Grand Duchy of Finland). It recorded demographic data as of . Previously, the Central Statistical Bureau issued statistical tables based on fiscal lists (ревизские списки). The census revealed the social class, native language, religion, and profession of citizens, which were aggregated to yield district and provincial totals. The second Russian census was scheduled for December 1915, but was cancelled because of World War I, which had begun during 1914. It was not rescheduled before the Russian Revolution. The next census in Russia only occurred at the end of 1926, almost three decades later. The census project was suggested during 1877 by Pyotr Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, a famous Russian geographer and director of the Central Statistical Bureau, and was approved by Czar Nicholas II in 1895. The census was performed in two stages. For the first stage (December 1896 — January 1897) the counters (135,000 persons: teachers, priests, and literate soldiers) visited all households and filled in the questionnaires, which were verified by local census managers. For the second stage () the counters simultaneously visited all households to verify and update the questionnaires. The census was performed during winter as the population was less mobile then. Despite this being the only imperial census, historians are able to estimate the Russian Empire's population during earlier times by collecting city censuses. The data processing required 8 years using Hollerith card machines. Publication of the results started during 1898 and ended in 1905. In total, 119 volumes for 89 guberniyas, as well as a two-volume summary, were issued.