Russia has a population of only 140 million.

Omissions

• The claim slightly understates Russia's population: the official Rosstat estimate is ~146 million (1 Jan 2025), i.e. ~6 million / ~4% higher than the 140 million stated.
• Rosstat's headline figure includes Crimea (annexed in 2014) and other occupied Ukrainian territories; excluding them the population is about 144 million (BOFIT), still above the claimed 140 million.
• The figure is presented rhetorically ('only 140 million') to magnify the demographic contrast with the EU; the underlying order of magnitude is nevertheless essentially correct.

Sources

• PrimaryRosstat (Federal State Statistics Service)Population (01.01.2025) resident population estimate · 146 119,9 · thousand people
• AcademicBOFIT (Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies)"Excluding the population living in Crimea, illegally annexed in 2014, Russia's 2023 population was about 144 million. Russia's population peaked ..."
• SecondaryTASS (citing Rosstat)"As of January 1, 2025, the preliminary estimate of the population of the Russian Federation totaled 146,028,325 people. The population dropped by 0.08% in 2024"
• TertiaryWorldometer (UN Population Division elaboration)2025, 143,997,393, −0.57%; 2024, 144,820,423, −0.43%