Eastern Europe (Belarus, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine) has one of the largest landmasses of any region in the world. Russia is the largest country in the world, and Ukraine is the second largest in Europe. The region is rich in resources, with farmland, timber, oil and rare metals. It is also prone to earthquakes and landslides, and the remoteness and cold make it difficult to utilize these resources or bring them to markets. Heavy industrialization has led to significant soil, water and air pollution. The whole region was affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, but most notably Ukraine and Belorussia (over 20% of the latter was contaminated).

For its size, the region is one of the least populated. About 315 million people lived here in 2000, but no longer: not a single Eastern European country has a growing population. All are aging and in decline. In 2010 the total regional population was estimated at 290 million. By 2025 the population will likely fall to 225 million: ahead of the rest of Europe but smaller than most Afrian, Asian or American regions. Two-thirds live in urban areas: there are nearly 600 megacities but their numbers, too, will likely decline.

Part of the problem is the regional economy. All of the nations have made the transition from communism to market economies, some better than others. While most of the economies are growing, and some are becoming players in the global economy, poverty and unemployment are still widespread. Moldavia remains one of the poorest countries in all of Europe. Over 75 million people in the region live in poverty, many more are poor and underemployed, and hunger and homelessness are readily seen on the streets. Eastern Europe produces just 7% of Europe’s total GNP.

Government corruption and instability–both so common as to be accepted without question–contribute to the economic challenges. Russia’s governments have been typified by strong, autocratic if not dictatorial leadership for centuries. The smaller countries have governments that are barely stable, although many are becoming more so. Crime is rampant. The combination of these many problems frightens would-be investors. The ongoing warfare in Chechneya only adds to the darkness of the mix.

AIDS is a silent threat, with significant epidemics in Bulgaria, Russia and Ukraine. Far more visible are the cankers of drug addiction and alcoholism.

This region’s religious climate experienced one of the most dramatic swings during the past century of any worldwide, caused by the 1910 Communist revolution, the 80 year suppression of all religious believers under Communist rule, and then the dramatic new freedoms followed by the collapse of Communism in the 1990s. Despite this, the non-religious remain a significant part of the region (estimated at about 7%). Islam is growing: having risen to 6% of the population (thus nearly equalling the numbers of atheists and agnostics). Jews in the region, once numbering 5% of the population in the early part of the century, have now fallen to less than 1% as most have emigrated to Israel.

The overwhelming majority of the population claim to be Christian of one variety or another. Most belong, if only in name, to the Orthodox or Catholic churches, but Independent and Marginal churches are the fastest-growing. Religious apathy, defections from the faith and inter-traditional rivalries are common. Few are interested in mission to other nations, although there are some indications this is changing. At the same time, although the numbers of nonreligious have fallen, they are still present, and there are a growing number of Muslim immigrants.

In most of the countries, there is significant personal religious freedom and widespread work marred by instances of persecution caused by the efforts of one or two dominant religions to remain dominant. Russia, in particular, is seeing a recurring chilling of religious freedom particularly for smaller groups like Baptists.

By 2025, it is presently unlikely that the religious situation will have dramatically changed. The number of believers will likely be smaller, due to the overall population decline.

See the original post at http://www.justinlong.org/2010/07/2010-status-of-eastern-europe/ for the table. Feel free to comment here or at the original post.