The district contributes 18% to Russia's Gross Regional Product (GRP), although its population is only 8.5% of the Russian total.

[7] Ethnic composition, according to the 2010 census: The district covers an area of 1,818,500 square kilometers (702,100 sq mi),[1] about 10% of Russia.

Whereas fuel and mineral mining has been providing a nearly constant outcome between 1990 and 2006, metal processing and engineering are declining, despite the fact that they employ up to 30% of industry workers of the district.

Local ore processing plants can provide only 20% of required copper, 28% chromium, 35% iron and 17% coal, and many of these resources are nearly exhausted.

In addition, 31.2% of the population declares to be "spiritual but not religious", 12.8% is atheist, and 5.9% follows other religions or did not give an answer to the question.