The Sakhalin Oblast (Russian: Сахали́нская о́бласть) is a regional subdivision of Russia. It comprises the island of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands.

The region has an area of 87,100 km² and a population of 546,695 (2002 All-Russian Population Census). Its administrative center and largest city is Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk with a population of around 170,000.

Besides from people from other parts of the former Soviet Union, Sakhalin is home to Nivkh and Ainu, with the latter having lost their language in Sakhalin recently.

Demographics

Population (2002): 546,695

Ethnic groups: As per the 2002 census, ethnic Russians at 460,778 (84.3%) constitute by far the largest group of the population, followed by Koreans at 29,592 (5.41%), Ukrainians at 21,831 (4%) and a host of smaller groups (all in all, 127 distinct ethnic groups are listed for the oblast).

History

Between 1905 and 1945 the southern part of Sakhalin Island (or Karafuto Island, Krafto in Ainu), along with some surrounding islands was controlled by Japan as the Prefecture of Karafuto. The capital of Karafuto was Toyohara, now the capital of Sakhalin (called Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk). The prefecture was Ainu-speaking instead of Japanese. As per the 2002 census, 333 residents of the oblast still identified themselves as ethnic Japanese. Data on Ainu population is not available; "Ainu" may have been etiher included in the "Other" category or the Ainus may have identified themselves as "Japanese" during the census.

Districts

External links

• Official website (in Russian)

萨哈林州