Russian Geographical Society

What Russian Geographical Society does

The Russian Geographical Society (RGO) is one of the world's oldest geographical societies, founded in 1845 as the Imperial Russian Geographical Society and reorganized as an All-Russian public organization (non-profit) headquartered in St. Petersburg with offices in Moscow. It operates a multi-platform ecosystem centered on geographic research, exploration, education, and cultural heritage preservation, serving Russian citizens, professional researchers, youth, and regional branch members through 80+ regional branches across Russia. Its core infrastructure comprises the Scientific Library (over 450,000 books and periodicals dating to the 16th century), the Scientific Archive (144 personal collections and 50,000+ archival units), a Geoportal with 48,000+ unique maps and atlases, an Electronic Library (elib.rgo.ru) with digitized publications from 1846 onward, and an online store (shop.rgo.ru) supported by two physical retail stores. Programmatic offerings include the annual Geographical Dictation, 'The Most Beautiful Country' photo contest (780,000+ submissions since 2015), the Youth Movement, an Underwater Research Center, an Expedition Corps, grant competitions, and immersive 360° VR film productions such as 'Russia. Virtual Journey.'

RGO's business model is that of a non-profit public organization rather than a commercial enterprise. Funding flows from membership contributions, donations, government support (the Board of Trustees is chaired by Vladimir Putin, and Sergei Shoigu has served as President since 2009), and earned revenue from merchandise sales (books, globes, maps, clothing, souvenirs) through its retail and e-commerce channels. The grant competition platform and expedition programs distribute funds outward rather than generating direct revenue, functioning as programmatic vehicles for research and conservation. Distribution spans two physical stores (Moscow and St. Petersburg), the online store, 80+ regional branches acting as implementation arms, and over 10 specialized digital portals accessible to a global audience of researchers and the Russian public. The organization's intellectual property base — historical cartographic collections, expedition archives, and ethnographic materials from explorers such as Przhevalsky, Miklukho-Maklay, and Kozlov — is the central asset around which all product, content, and outreach activity is built.

Name

Russian Geographical Society

Legal name

All-Russian public organization "Russian Geographical Society"

Website

https://rgo.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

1845

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Russian Geographical Society (RGO) is a 180-year-old non-profit public organization promoting geographic research, exploration, education, and heritage preservation through 80+ regional branches, expeditions, grants, digital libraries, and youth programs serving Russian citizens, researchers, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geographic Research Society

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarly Society & Association Publishing (EDAGAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Natural History Museums (THAJADAC), GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK), Geospatial Data Management & Enterprise GIS (Geodatabases, Web GIS, Spatial Analytics) (EUAHAKAC), International Cultural/Educational Broadcasters (MPABAEAF)

Keywords

• Geographic research
• Scientific expeditions
• Cartographic services
• Geographic education
• Nature conservation

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Russian Geographical Society is a historical all-Russian public organization founded in 1845 that conducts geographic research, organizes expeditions across Russia and abroad, maintains a Scientific Library with more than 450,000 books and a Scientific Archive with 144 collections, and runs educational programs, grants, contests, and a Youth Movement. It operates digital platforms including a Geoportal, Electronic Library, and a VR/360-degree film studio, and publishes the scientific journal Izvestia of the Russian Geographical Society.

Product overview

The Russian Geographical Society (RGO) operates a multi-platform ecosystem centered on geographical research, education, and conservation. The core infrastructure includes the Scientific Library (450,000+ volumes) and Scientific Archive (144 collections, 50,000+ archival units) accessible via the Electronic Library and Geoportal. The online presence encompasses the RGS Online Store for merchandise, Grant Competition platform, and dedicated portals for specific initiatives including the annual Geographical Dictation, The Most Beautiful Country Photo Contest (780,000+ photographs), and Youth Movement volunteer programs. RGO produces multimedia content including the 360° VR film 'Russia. Virtual Journey' and maintains online exhibitions such as the Ainu People and Miklukho-Maklay projects. The organization supports expeditions, underwater research, and conservation projects through specialized divisions including the Underwater Research Center and Expedition Corps. Educational and travel offerings include 'Travel with RGS' route programs and the Russian Phenological Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scientific Library

Quantifiable outcome

• 780,000+ photographs submitted to photo contest over 11 years
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Google Earth / Google Maps: Google Earth and Maps are global platforms for geospatial visualization and mapping. Comparable to RGS's Geoportal in serving users seeking geographic and cartographic content, but as a global commercial platform rather than a heritage archive.
• Esri: Esri is the leading commercial GIS and spatial analytics platform. Relevant to RGS as a comparable operator in geospatial data management, mapping, and spatial analytics — though Esri is a commercial software vendor rather than a nonprofit society.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian is a large US nonprofit operating museums, libraries, archives, and research centers. Comparable to RGS in its combination of scientific archive, library, museum collections, and educational programming, though on a much larger and broader scale.
• National Geographic Partners: National Geographic Partners is the commercial media and licensing arm of the National Geographic Society, operating publishing, TV, maps, and consumer products. Comparable to RGS as a broader commercial/incumbent counterpart that monetizes geographic content at global scale.

Regional players

• Geographical Society of New South Wales: An Australian regional geographic society promoting geographic education and research in Australia/New Zealand; comparable to RGS as a society with archive, grants, and lectures but focused on a different geography.
• Canadian Geographic: Published by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Canadian Geographic is a regional geographic media and education brand comparable to RGS publications in format and audience (general public interested in national geography).
• Chinese Geographical Society: A leading national geographic society in China focused on geographic research, education, and publishing. Comparable to RGS in scale and mission but operating primarily in China rather than competing in the Russian/CIS market.

Direct peers

• National Geographic Society: The US-based National Geographic Society is the most direct global peer: a nonprofit scientific and educational organization promoting exploration, geography, and conservation with a large archive, magazine, maps, and grant programs — directly comparable in mission and offerings to RGS.
• American Geographical Society: Founded in 1851, the American Geographical Society is a nonprofit geographic organization focused on research, education, and geospatial data — comparable to RGS in mission (geographic research, archive, expeditions, education) and nonprofit structure.
• Royal Geographical Society: The UK Royal Geographical Society is one of the world's oldest geographic societies (founded 1830) and a direct peer of RGS, operating a major library, archive, map collection, expeditions program, grants, and educational outreach aimed at a similar scientific and public audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rgo_ru
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMgAJsnI00fDZ592Fh5PCWQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/rgoclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/rgo_1845
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/russian-geographical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Russian Geographical Society