Population: 2,223,400

Economy: Its territory is rich in mineral resources: over 2,500 deposits of 75 different raw materials have been discovered and developed. Oil, charcoal, ferrous and non-ferrous metals are the key deposits. The oblast is second only to Yamal-Nenets in the extraction of gas. More than three fourths of the oblast's output comes from industry, which is dominated by the fuel and energy complex, metallurgy, machine construction, and chemicals. The oblast is located on the crossroads of numerous railroads and highways making it an important transportation hub. The country's major gas and oil pipelines, connecting Siberian gas and oil fields to the European part of Russia and other European countries, cross its territory.

Culture: In the region there are 7 professional theatres: Regional Theatre of Drama named after M. Gorky, Theatre of Musical Comedy, Tatar Dramatic Theatre named after M. Faizy, Puppet Theatre.

Administrative division: Orenburgskaya region is divided into 35 districts, 12 towns, 1768 settlements. Population of the region is 2.2 million people, representatives of more than 80 nationalities: Russians - 72%, Tatars - 7%, Kazakhs - 5% and others live in the region.

Brief History:

• Originally the territory of modern Orenburg Oblast was home to several nomadic tribes, including the Kalmyks, Skiffs, and Tatars, who later moved westward.
• The Russian state took control of the region in the 16-17th centuries, though intensive migration to the area from the country's western territories began only in the 1830s.
• In 1743, the present oblast capital, Orenburg, was founded on the confluence of the Yaik and Sakmara rivers, and immediately became the main administrative and trade center of the area.

Current situation: Today the oblast is one of the country's most important industrial and agricultural regions.