Location: South Eastern Siberia

Land Size: c.135,600 sq mi (351,200 sq km), North of Mongolia, extending betweeen Lake Baikal and the Yablonovy Mountains

Population: 981,238

Capital: Ulan Ude

Ethnic Groups: Russians 70%, Buryats 24%, minorities (Evenki, Tuvan, Tatar, Ukrainians) 6%

Official Languages: Russian, Buryat

Political Status: Republic

Politics: The head of government in Buryatia is the President, who is elected for a four-year term. As of 2006, the President is Leonid Vasilyevich Potapov, who was elected on July 1, 1994, re-elected in 1998 (with 63.25% of votes), and then re-elected again on June 23, 2002 (with over 67% of votes). Prior to the elections, Potapov was the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic—the highest post at that time. The Republic's parliament is the People's Khural, popularly elected every four years. The People's Khural has 65 deputies. The Republic's Constitution was adopted on February 22, 1994.

Economy:  The republic's economy is composed of important agricultural and commercial products including wheat, vegetables, potatoes, timber, leather, graphite and textiles. Fishing, hunting, fur farming, sheep and cattle farming, mining, stock raising, engineering, and food processing are also important economic generators.

Religion: Tibetan Buddhism, Shamanism, Orthodox Christianity are the most widespread religions in Buryatia.