More than 8mln people are living in Moscow, and more than 11mln in Moscow with its suburbs. Initially, Russians predominated, and this is true now as well, although there are some changes in proportions between Russians, Tatars, Jews and people from the Caucasus republics. Moscovites by birth are not so numerous now.

The Moscow dialect was specific: a tendency to use the sound "A" instead of "O" was recorded by scientists and writers; at the same time, the Moscow dialect is thought to be the closest to the correct "pure" language.