Quick answerNovosibirsk is a city in Russia, with 1,633,595 people inside the city limits in 2021. It is best known for the Trans-Siberian Railway, the Akademgorodok and the Opera and Ballet Theatre. Its official language is Russian, and its currency is the Russian ruble.
Novosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, with 1,633,595 people (2021 Census). It stands on the Ob River in Siberia and is the largest city in North Asia, home to the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre and the Novosibirsk Zoo.
Key facts
| Country | Russia |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,633,595 (2021) |
| Elevation | 153 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Asia/Novosibirsk |
| Language | Russian |
| Currency | Russian ruble (RUB, ₽) |
| Coordinates | 55.05° N, 82.95° E |
Overview
Novosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, with 1,633,595 people in the 2021 Census. It is the largest city in Siberia and in North Asia, and the administrative centre of Novosibirsk Oblast. The city stands on the banks of the Ob River in south-western Siberia, where the Trans-Siberian Railway crosses the river.
Novosibirsk was founded in 1893 as a settlement for the railway bridge over the Ob, first called Novonikolayevsk, and took its present name in 1926. It grew fast into a transport, industrial and scientific centre, and the Akademgorodok science city was built on its southern edge in the 1950s. Its best-known sights are the Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Novosibirsk Zoo. The city is served by Tolmachevo Airport, the busiest airport in Siberia.
What Novosibirsk is known for
- Trans-Siberian Railway
- Akademgorodok
- Opera and Ballet Theatre
- Novosibirsk Zoo
- Siberian science
Landmarks
- Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Novosibirsk Zoo
- Lenin Square
- Ascension Cathedral
- Novosibirsk State Museum of Local Lore
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Novosibirsk?
Novosibirsk had 1,633,595 people in the 2021 Census, making it Russia's third-largest city, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg. A 2025 estimate put the population at 1,637,266. It is the largest city in Siberia and the most populous Russian city that is not a federal subject.
Where is Novosibirsk and what is it known for?
Novosibirsk is in south-western Siberia, on the banks of the Ob River, where the Trans-Siberian Railway crosses it. It is about 2,800 kilometres east of Moscow. It is known for the railway, the Akademgorodok science city, its Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Novosibirsk Zoo.
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Keep exploring
- Russia — the country Novosibirsk is in
- Moscow — another city in Russia
- Saint Petersburg — another city in Russia
- Yekaterinburg — another city in Russia
- All cities in Russia
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.