Who Are the Komi?
The Komi are a Uralic people numbering approximately 220,000-290,000, primarily inhabiting the Komi Republic in northwestern Russia (between Ural Mountains and Arctic), speaking Komi language (Uralic family, related to Finno-Ugric languages including Finnish, Estonian, and Hungarian). The Komi are divided into two main groups: Komi-Zyrians (largest group in Komi Republic) and Komi-Permyaks (smaller group in Perm region). Historically, the Komi inhabited vast territories across northern Russia, practicing hunting, fishing, reindeer herding in the north, and agriculture in southern regions. Traditional Komi culture features distinctive wooden architecture, rich folklore including epic poetry, shamanic traditions (though suppressed after Christianization in 14th-15th centuries), and unique musical traditions. The Komi developed their own writing system in the 14th century—Old Permic script—created by missionary Saint Stephen of Perm, though it was later replaced by Cyrillic. Soviet industrialization and resource extraction (timber, coal, oil, gas) in Komi territories brought massive Russian immigration, reducing ethnic Komi to minority status in their own republic. Today, approximately 65% of Komi speak their native language, though Russian dominance and urbanization create assimilation pressures. The Komi Republic has official status within Russian Federation with Komi language co-official alongside Russian.