The Northwestern Federal District (NWFD) is located in the north and northwest of the European part of Russia and includes 11 subjects of the Federation - the Republics of Karelia and Komi, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions, St. Petersburg and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The Northwestern Federal District was established by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 dated May 13, 2000. The center of the district is St. Petersburg.

The area of ​​the federal district is 1677.9 thousand km 2, which is 9.9% of the territory of Russia.

The Northwestern Federal District occupies an advantageous geopolitical position. This is the only one of the federal districts of the Russian Federation that directly borders the countries of the European Union, Central and Northern Europe: Norway, Finland, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus. The Okrug plays an important strategic role as a border region.

Its internal borders are adjacent to the territories of the Ural, Volga, Central federal districts. The region occupies the entire territory of the European North, has access to the Arctic Ocean and the Baltic, White, Barents, Kara Seas, which creates favorable conditions for the development of export-import relations.

population population The population of the Northwestern Federal District is 13.5 million people, or 9.5% of the population of Russia. Since 1992, the number of inhabitants living on its territory has been declining. The highest rates of natural population decline were noted in the Vologda Oblast, the Republic of Karelia and St. Petersburg. The decline in population is associated with an unfavorable demographic situation in all regions of the Okrug, characterized by both negative rates of natural growth and intensified migration processes.

The old age structure of the population makes a significant contribution to the significant natural decline in the Okrug's population. There are already 1.5 times more people of retirement age in the NWFD than children under 16. The Pskov and Novgorod oblasts stand out with a particularly old age structure of the population, which is associated with the long-term outflow of young people from these regions in the previous decades. The northern territories (Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Komi Republic, Murmansk Oblast) are distinguished by a younger age structure of the population. The city of St. Petersburg also stands out with the old age structure of the population.

Depopulation, i.e. population decline is a serious demographic and socio-economic problem of the federal district, requiring both state incentives to achieve positive indicators of natural reproduction, and a regulated influx of migrants (both are carried out within the framework of the new federal demographic policy for the period up to 2025).

At the same time, only the city of St. Petersburg, Leningrad and Kaliningrad regions are distinguished by a stable migration influx in the NWFD. These regions constantly have a positive migration balance, both with other regions of the district, and with most other subjects of the Russian Federation and the newly independent states. The relative migration inflow to the Kaliningrad region is especially intense, where it often overlaps the natural population decline. Therefore, the population of this region of the country compared with the beginning of the 90s. increased, while in all other regions of the Northwestern Federal District it decreased.

All other regions of the NWFD have a negative migration balance. The outflow of residents from the northern territories is especially intense - from the Komi Republic, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. In these regions, outbound migration is the main cause of population decline. Mostly young people and people of working age with children leave, which leads to further aging of the age structure of the population and aggravation of demographic problems.

The population of the Northwestern Federal District is distributed unevenly. The average population density is 8.2 people. per 1 km 2. The main part of the inhabitants is in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region (72.0 people per 1 km 2). The highest population density is typical for the Kaliningrad region (63.1 people per

1 km 2). The northern part of the okrug is characterized by low population density, with the most sparsely populated region being the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (24.0 people per 1 km2), located in the Arctic.

The federal district is different high level of urbanization for Russia - almost 82% of the population lives in urban areas, while almost a third of the population is concentrated in the largest St. Petersburg agglomeration in the country. The smallest part of the urban population is observed in the Pskov, Arkhangelsk, Vologda regions and the Komi Republic.

National composition The county's population is heterogeneous. The NWFD is distinguished by the multinational composition of the population; the majority are Russians. Among other nationalities, Komi, Karelians, Saami predominate, in the north-east of the Arkhangelsk region - Nenets. In the European North, there is an acute problem of the survival of indigenous peoples due to the reduction of their habitat. St. Petersburg is also multinational, where, as in Moscow, there are diasporas: Ukrainian, Tatar, peoples of the Caucasus, Estonian and others.

Human Resources The districts, especially in St. Petersburg, are distinguished by the presence of a significant number of highly qualified specialists employed in science-intensive industries, in science and trade, including private entrepreneurship, as well as in market infrastructure.

In the structure of the employed population by sectors of the economy, the share of those employed in trade, public catering, consumer services and health care is increasing, while the number of people employed in industry, agriculture, and construction is decreasing. The solution of socio-demographic problems is possible by stabilizing and raising the economy, taking effective national and regional measures to implement social programs at the federal and regional levels aimed at social protection of the population.

In the NWFD, where the total population is declining, there is an increase in the economically active population, including those employed in the economy. Both the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed are steadily declining. The level of registered unemployment in the NWFD (1.4%) is one of the lowest in Russia.

Direct access to the world market and the proximity of European states, the presence of two ice-free seaports - Kaliningrad and Murmansk, the established overland transport network and proximity to the main industrialized districts of Russia - Central and Ural largely determined the multifaceted role of the district as a major supplier of various raw materials and industrial products, fuel and energy resources, a forge of qualified personnel, the most important Russian exporter of not only its own products, but also those produced in other regions of Russia. At the same time, the district can be considered as the largest importer of various products, the main recipient of foreign investment, and an important transit region.

The basis of the economy of the Northwestern Federal District is the use of the rich natural resource potential and favorable economic and geographical position of the region.

The main branches of market specialization that determine its place in the all-Russian territorial division of labor are ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, the fuel industry (coal, oil, gas), diversified engineering, forestry, woodworking and pulp and paper, chemical and fishing industries. Agriculture specializes in dairy farming and reindeer husbandry.

The Federal District occupies a leading position in the production of electrical equipment, electronics, opto-mechanical products, shipbuilding, produces a significant part of the republican volume of phosphate raw materials (being the leader in the production of apatite and nepheline concentrates), industrial wood, more than 45% of cellulose, 62% of paper, 52 % of cardboard, finished rolled products, its share in the fish catch is significant. This is one of the leading centers of scientific and technological progress, the training of highly qualified personnel, the center of Russian history and culture, as well as tourism. The district performs important transport functions in the implementation of maritime transport.

It occupies a relatively small area (10% of the country's territory) and concentrates about 10% of the population of Russia with an average population density of 8 people / km 2. Center - St. Petersburg.

The specialization of the economy of the district is determined, first of all, by its advantageous geographical position: access to the Baltic Sea, proximity to the Baltic countries and Finland, as well as to the developed Central District and the raw material base of the North.

The raw material base for many industrial enterprises of the North-Western District is the north of the European part of Russia. For example, aluminum smelters in the cities of Volkhov (Leningrad Region) operate on bauxite from the local Tikhvin deposit and nepheline from the Kola Peninsula. The refinery in Ukhta uses oil from the Komi Republic through an oil pipeline.

Apatites of the Kola Peninsula and methane phosphorites serve as raw materials for the production of phosphate fertilizers in the city of Kingisepp. Nitrogen fertilizers, as well as polymeric materials are produced

Novgorod chemical plant, which uses natural gas as a raw material, which comes through a gas pipeline.

Cherepovets Metallurgical Plant "Severstal" (Vologda Region) supplies rolled steel to metal-intensive engineering enterprises in St. Petersburg. Izhora Plant and Elektrosila (St. Petersburg) produce power equipment, including equipment for nuclear power plants. Baltiysky, Admiralteysky (St. Petersburg) and Vyborgsky (Vyborg) shipyards build nuclear-powered icebreakers, large tankers, dry cargo ships, fishing and research vessels. St. Petersburg also manufactures subway cars, Kirovets heavy tractors and machine tools.

precision engineering was developed in St. Petersburg thanks to qualified workers and the scientific and technical potential of the city. Instrumentation, computer technology, precision optics, consumer electronics: the range of products is quite large.

The favorable geographical position of the Northwestern Federal District (access to the Baltic Sea) determined its specialization in the road transport complex. Due to the loss of ports in Tallinn, Klaipeda, Riga and Ventspils, the volume of export-import cargo flows passing through the domestic Baltic ports has increased dramatically. The economic recovery in the industry can be judged by the expansion of existing and construction of new ports in the Gulf of Finland. In addition to the four currently operating: in St. Petersburg (the largest), Kaliningrad (non-freezing), Baltiysk (the main base of the Baltic Fleet) and Vyborg, new ports are being built in Ust-Luga, Batareinaya Bay (near Sosnovy Bor) and Primorsk (Fig. one).

New modern customs inspection points for motor vehicles have been opened on the Russian-Finnish border. They will allow unloading existing ones and significantly reduce the loss of time for Russian and foreign transport workers when crossing the border.

Port facilities is a complex complex, including fishing and transport vessels, shipbuilding and ship repair plants, receiving bases and fish canning enterprises. Moreover, fishing is carried out not only in the Baltic Sea, but also in the Atlantic.

Fish industry is one of the main areas of specialization of the district.

Rice. 1. New port complexes in the Gulf of Finland

- the westernmost outskirts of Russia, this is part of the former East Prussia, which became part of the USSR in 1945 by decision of the Potsdam Conference. The region occupies a small area (0.1% of the country's territory) and is a Russian exclave between the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and Poland. The population makes up 0.6% of the country's population and is concentrated in cities (77%). The population density of the region is high - 63 people/km2.

Centre - Kaliningrad, large cities - Sovete k, Chernyakhovsk.

The port of Kaliningrad is located at the mouth of the Pregol River and is connected to the sea by a deep-water canal through which large-capacity vessels can pass. The fishing industry and port facilities are the main branches of specialization of the region.

The peculiarity of the Kaliningrad region is also that it contains up to 90% of the world's amber reserves, which are mined in quarries at the Primorskoye and Palminikskoye deposits. Amber is a pine resin hardened and polished with water, which is used in medicine, the chemical industry, but most importantly, jewelry is made from it. This is the symbol of the Baltic Sea.

The share of the European North accounts for 1/4 of the all-Russian production of iron ore, 9/10 - of apatites (raw materials for the production of phosphate fertilizers). The European North is a supplier of coal, oil, gas, non-ferrous and rare metals.

During the years of economic reforms in Russia, the volume of capital investments in the branches of specialization of the economy of the European North, its production infrastructure, and geological exploration have decreased. Production volumes also declined. However, recently there have been positive trends in the increase in industrial production.

The development of hard coal in the Pechora basin, oil and gas in the Timano-Pechora oil and gas province are carried out in the Komi Republic, as well as in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The raw material factor determines the specialization of industry in most of the northern cities of the district. Even during the period of planned economy in the area of ​​oil and gas fields, the Timan-Pechora Territorial Production Complex (TPK) was formed with the center in the city of Ukhta. A large oil refinery operates here, and a gas processing plant operates in Sosnogorsk. Pipelines have been built linking the deposits of the Timan-Pechora province with processing plants in the Central and Northwestern regions. These are the Usinsk-Ukhta-Kotlas-Yaroslavl-Moscow oil pipeline and the Vuktyl-Ukhta-Gryazovets gas pipeline (a section of the Siyanie Severa gas pipeline from Western Siberia) with branches to Moscow and St. Petersburg and further to Belarus, Latvia and Estonia.

In addition, the timber, woodworking, pulp and paper industries are developing; ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.

Indicators of the Northwestern Federal District

Administrative-territorial structure: Saint Petersburg; republics - Komi, Karelia. Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions. Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

Territory- 1687 thousand km 2. Population - 13.5 million people.

Administrative center- Saint Petersburg.

The Northwestern Federal District unites the Northwestern and Northern economic regions and the Kaliningrad Region.

The Okrug plays an important strategic role as a border region of Russia in the European North and West of the country, within which large industrial and cultural centers, seaports on the Baltic, White and Barents Seas are located.

Table 2. The share of economic indicators of the Northwestern Federal District in the national

The specialization of the industrial production of the district by type of economic activity is determined on the basis of the localization coefficient in Table. 3.

Table 3. Specialization of industrial production in the Northwestern Federal District

The types of economic activity that determine the specialization of the district in terms of the localization coefficient can be considered the following (see Table 3): mining, except for fuel and energy; manufacturing industries (including the production of food products, including drinks, and tobacco; wood processing and the production of wood products; pulp and paper production; publishing and printing activities; metallurgical production and production of finished metal products; production of electrical equipment, electronic and optical equipment; production of vehicles and equipment; other production); production and distribution of electricity, gas and water.

According to the natural-geographical and transport conditions, the peculiarities of the distribution of productive forces and the population of the territory, the district is divided into three component parts; North-Western economic region, Northern economic region and Kaliningrad region.

- Formed on May 13, 2000 in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 "On the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Federal District." The North-Western region is located in the north and north-west of the European part of the non-chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. The center of the Northwestern Federal District is the city of St. Petersburg.

Northwestern Federal District (NWFD), which includes 11 constituent entities of the Federation, plays an important strategic role as a border part of Russia in the European North and the west of the country. The Northwestern Federal District unites 2 economic regions: Northern and Northwestern. The territory of the district is located in the zone of mixed forests, taiga, forest-tundra and tundra. The Northwestern Federal District occupies an advantageous geopolitical position - it borders on Finland, Norway, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, has access to the Baltic, White, Barents, Kara Seas. Within its boundaries there are very large industrial and vibrant cultural centers, important seaports, unique objects included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List (in the cities of St. Petersburg and Novgorod, as well as on the Solovetsky Islands and Kizhi Island).

is a lake region. Numerous lakes are located mainly in the western part; the largest of them are Ladoga, Onega, Ilmen. Rivers flow through the region. Plain rivers are of navigable value. Among them are Pechora, northern Dvina, Onega. Neva and others. In terms of hydropower, the Svir, Volkhov, Narva and Vuoksa are of greatest importance.
The district richest in natural resources in the European part of the country: ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores, chemical raw materials, forest and water resources.
The development of the economy of the North-Western District stimulates the presence of significant reserves of mineral raw materials, fuel, energy and water resources, which can not only meet the needs of the country's economic complex, but also be exported to many countries of the world.
The district accounts for a significant part of the balance reserves of copper, tin, cobalt. Fuel resources are represented by reserves of coal, oil, natural gas, oil shale, peat. The region is rich in non-ferrous metal ores. Industrial reserves of aluminum-containing raw materials are of great value. The forests are very rich in fur-bearing animals (arctic fox, black-brown fox, sable, ermine, etc.). The seas washing the territory of the district are rich in valuable species of fish (cod, salmon, herring, haddock, etc.).
The presence in the Okrug of significant mineral and raw material and fuel reserves, as well as water and forest resources, is an important factor in its economic development in the context of the formation of a market economy.
The economic potential of the territory of the Northwestern Federal District is one of the largest among other districts located in the European part of Russia. Its leading branch of the economy is industry.
The Northwestern Federal District produces a significant part of the republican volume of phosphate raw materials, industrial timber, about 33% of cellulose, finished rolled products, and its share in the fish catch is also large.
The economic and geographical position of the district has a number of advantages. Access to the seas - the Baltic, Barents and White - provide shipping routes to the west - towards Western Europe and the eastern coast of North America, as well as to the east - along the Northern Sea Route to the Russian Arctic and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Of great importance are the common borders with the countries of the European Union - Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
The main branches of market specialization in the industrial sector are the fuel industry (oil, gas, coal), ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, multidisciplinary engineering, forestry and woodworking, chemical, food, fishing industries, and in agriculture - flax growing, dairy and meat cattle breeding, reindeer breeding , fishing. The leading positions in the industrial development of the regions of the European North to date have been retained by ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, woodworking and pulp and paper industries, and the fuel industry.
In terms of foreign trade turnover, the NWFD ranks third in Russia after the Central and Ural federal districts. At the same time, exports and imports almost balance each other, while in Russia as a whole, exports exceed imports by 2.5 times. It can be said that the Northwestern Federal District specializes in importing products from foreign countries to Russia.
The Northwestern Federal District occupies one of the first places in Russia in the production of marine vessels of various types, unique steam, hydraulic and gas turbines, optical and mechanical products.
Precise and complex mechanical engineering is widely developed in the district: instrument making, radio engineering, electronic, electrical engineering, which is located in St. Petersburg. The prospects for the development of the industry are associated with the further development of science-intensive and precision industries, mechanical engineering, and shipbuilding.
The Northwestern Federal District is one of Russia's largest producers and exporters of ferrous and nonferrous metals, primarily steel, copper, aluminum and nickel.
In the Northwestern Federal District, the chemical industry belongs to the branches of market specialization. Both the basic chemistry, in particular the production of mineral fertilizers, and the chemistry of organic synthesis were developed. Fertilizers, rubber products, synthetic resins, plastics, paint and varnish products, various acids and ammonia, pharmaceuticals, phosphate raw materials, and household chemicals are produced here.
The chemistry of organic synthesis is developing on the use of woodworking waste - the production of alcohol, rosin, turpentine, viscose fibers. On the basis of local oil and gas resources in Syktyvkar (Komi Republic) plastics, alcohols, dyes are produced.
The level of agriculture does not provide the local population with food, and industry does not provide raw materials.
Agriculture specializes in dairy and beef cattle breeding, potato growing, vegetable growing and flax growing. Reindeer breeding is developed in the north of the district. The leading role of agricultural production is animal husbandry.
The city of St. Petersburg occupies a leading position in the economy of the district.

NORTHWESTERN Federal District. Area 1,677,900 sq. km.
The administrative center of the Northwestern Federal District - Saint Petersburg

Cities of the Northwestern Federal District.

Cities in the Arkhangelsk region: Velsk, Kargopol, Koryazhma, Kotlas, Mezen, Mirny, Naryan-Mar, Novodvinsk, Nyandoma, Onega, Severodvinsk, Solvychegodsk, Shenkursk. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Arkhangelsk.

Cities in the Vologda Oblast: Babaevo, Belozersk, Veliky Ustyug, Vytegra, Gryazovets, Kadnikov, Kirillov, Krasavino, Nikolsk, Sokol, Totma, Ustyuzhna, Kharovsk, Cherepovets. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Vologda.

Cities in the Kaliningrad region: Bagrationovsk, Baltiysk, Gvardeysk, Guryevsk, Gusev, Zelenogradsk, Krasnoznamensk, Ladushkin, Mamonovo, Neman, Nesterov, Ozersk, Pionersky, Polessk, Pravdinsk, Primorsk, Svetlogorsk, Light, Slavsk, Sovetsk, Chernyakhovsk. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Kaliningrad.

Cities in the Leningrad region: Boksitogorsk, Volosovo, Volkhov, Vsevolozhsk, Vyborg, Vysotsk, Gatchina, Ivangorod, Kamennogorsk, Kingisepp, Kirishi, Kirovsk, Kommunar, Lodeynoye Pole, Meadows, Luban, Nikolskoye, Novaya Ladoga, Otradnoe, Pikalevo, Podporozhye, Primorsk, Priozersk, Svetogorsk, Sertolovo, Shales, Sosnovy Bor, Syasstroy, Tikhvin, Tosno, Shlisselburg. The administrative center of the federal district is the city St. Petersburg.

Cities in the Murmansk region: Apatity, Gadzhievo, Zaozersk, Zapolyarny, Kandalaksha, Kirovsk, Kovdor, Kola, Monchegorsk, Olenegorsk, Ostrovnoy, Polyarnye Zori, Polyarny, Severomorsk, Snezhnogorsk. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Murmansk.

Cities in the Novgorod region: Borovichi, Valdai, Malaya Vishera, Okulovka, Pestovo, Soltsy, Staraya Russa, Hill, Chudovo. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Velikiy Novgorod.

Cities in the Pskov region: Velikiye Luki, Gdov, Dno, Nevel, Novorzhev, Novosokolniki, Opochka, Ostrov, Pechory, Porkhov, Pustoshka, Pytalovo, Sebezh. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Pskov.

Cities in the Republic of Karelia: Belomorsk, Kem, Kondopoga, Kostomuksha, Lakhdenpokhya, Medvezhyegorsk, Olonets, Pitkyaranta, Pudozh, Segezha, Sortavala, Suoyarvi. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Petrozavodsk.

Cities in the Komi Republic: Vorkuta, Vuktyl, Emva, Inta, Mikun, Pechora, Sosnogorsk, Usinsk, Ukhta. The administrative center of the federal district is the city Syktyvkar.

Cities and Administrative center in Nenets Autonomous Okrug - city Naryan-Mar.

Cities in the city of Saint Petersburg: Zelenogorsk, Kolpino, Krasnoye Selo, Kronstadt, Lomonosov, Pavlovsk, Peterhof, Pushkin, Sestroretsk. The administrative center of the federal district, the city of federal significance, the capital of the Leningrad region - the city St. Petersburg.

Federal districts of Russia: , .

The Northwestern Federal District was established in accordance with Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 849 dated May 13, 2000.

The Northwestern Federal District includes 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation: the Republic, the Komi Republic, the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov regions, the city of St. Petersburg, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

The center of the Northwestern Federal District is the city of St. Petersburg (area - 1.4 thousand km2, population as of 01.01.2007 - 4.6 million people).
The territory of the Northwestern Federal District is 1,687 thousand km2, or 9.9% of the territory of Russia.

As of January 1, 2007, 13.6 million people (9.53%) lived in the district, of which the urban population accounted for 82.2%, the rural population - 17.8%, men - 45.9%, women - 54, one%. Population density - 8.0 people. per 1 m2.

The largest cities of the Northwestern Federal District are St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Cherepovets, Vologda, Petrozavodsk, Severodvinsk, Novgorod, Syktyvkar. St. Petersburg is a millionaire city. The number of other cities does not exceed 230,000 people.

The resource and raw materials base of the Northwestern Federal District is not among the richest in Russia, nevertheless, the extraction of almost the entire Russian volume of apatite (with reserves of 72% of the total Russian) and titanium (77% of reserves) is concentrated in the district. Oil and gas reserves are about 8% of the total Russian reserves, coal reserves are about 3% of Russian reserves. At the same time, the extraction of fuel resources plays an important role in the economy of the district, although it accounts for only 4% of the total for oil and 7% for coal. Large reserves of peat and oil shale are concentrated in the district. About 19% of nickel and iron ores are mined here, while nickel reserves make up 18% of the total Russian reserves. Bauxite reserves (45% of Russia's total) have not yet been fully developed - their extraction is only 15% of the Russian level. The district has large reserves of diamonds (19% of the total Russian), there are deposits of rare metals, gold, barite, uranium. Exploration of reserves of manganese and chromium ores is underway.

The Northwestern Federal District produces 10% of the country's gross domestic product (5th place among the districts). In terms of per capita gross regional product, the district ranks 3rd among.

The economy of the Northwestern Federal District is growing at a slower pace than the Russian economy as a whole.

An important role in the economy of the district is played by the metallurgical complex, consisting of 75% of ferrous and 25% of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, as well as mechanical engineering. The Okrug has developed a science-intensive industry specializing in the production of electronics and electrical engineering, instrument making; developed shipbuilding.

The Northwestern Federal District of Russia is one of the most developed timber industry regions of the country, and the timber industry sector is one of the key sectors in the region's economy. Almost 60% of the forests of the European part of Russia grow here. The stock of wood is about 10 billion m3. It produces 30% of Russian lumber, 40% of plywood, about 40% of industrial wood, 50% of cardboard and 60% of paper.

On the basis of the use of phosphate raw materials, gas and the disposal of metallurgy waste, the production of complex mineral fertilizers and plastics has been established, rubber products, synthetic resins, paints and varnishes, household chemicals are produced. The light industry of the Northwestern Federal District specializes in the production of linen fabrics.

Developed fishing industry. In terms of fish catch, the Northwestern Federal District ranks second after the Far East. Fishing is carried out for cod, herring, sea bass, flounder, halibut, in rivers and lakes - salmon, whitefish, grayling, vendace, smelt. Fish processing is carried out at fish processing plants in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

The absolute leader among the types of activities are manufacturing industries, where almost 75% of industrial output is carried out.

On the territory of the North-Western Federal District, 9% of the area of ​​housing in Russia is put into operation annually (5th place among the federal districts). In 2006, per 1,000 inhabitants, 340 m2 of housing was put into operation in the district, which is lower than the average Russian value, however, according to this indicator, the North-Western Federal District ranks third among other districts.

Over the past 5 years, the average per capita cash income in the Northwestern Federal District was higher than in Russia, reaching 10,640 rubles in 2006, which corresponds to the 3rd place among the federal districts. The share of the population with monetary incomes below the subsistence level in 2006 was 14.5% of the total population of the district.

At the end of 2006, 119,000 people were registered as unemployed with the State Employment Service of the Northwestern Federal District, which accounted for 6.9% of the total number of unemployed in Russia. Unemployment benefits received 103 thousand people. The level of registered unemployment in the Northwestern Federal District - 1.6% - is one of the lowest in Russia.

The main production potential falls on St. Petersburg, the Leningrad and Vologda regions. The economic core of the region is St. Petersburg with a number of satellite cities. The economy of this region is based on knowledge-intensive and highly skilled industries. The production of turbines, generators, compressors is concentrated in the region, instrument making and the production of automation equipment are developed. Vyborg specializes in electronics, Gatchina - in the production of agricultural machinery and spare parts. The production potential of the Vologda Oblast is made up of ferrous metallurgy, the chemical industry and mechanical engineering. There are also enterprises of the timber, woodworking and pulp and paper industries in the region.