Geography:
The Carpatho-Rusyns in Europe live in historical Subcarpathian Rus'(Ruthenia), now Transcarpathian Region, Ukraine. The capital is Uzhorod. In Slovakia, they live in the northern part of the country known as the Prešov Region.

People:
Population
The estimated number of Carpatho-Rusyns is 1,6 million worldwide. Approximately 45% of the Rusyn People live in Ukraine. Outside of the Carpathian homeland, Rusyns live as immigrants in neighbouring countries - 8% in Slovakia, 4% in Poland and 4% in Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Czech Republic and Hungary. The largest community outside the homeland is in the United States where 38% of the Rusyn People live. In Canada and in Australia there are about 1,3% of the total number of Rusyns.

Languages
Carpatho-Rusyns belongs to the Slavic branch of Indo-European peoples. Their dialects are classified as East Slavic and are closely related to Ukrainian. Carpatho-Rusyns use the Cyrillic alphabet.

Economy
The mountainous landscape in Carpathian Rus' never allowed for extensive agricultural production. As a result, the Rusyns were usually poor and forced to survive by working in neighbouring countries. After World War II, industrial enterprises were established in Carpathian cities located outside Carpatho-Rusyns ethno-linguistic territory.

Brief History
6th-7th Century Carpathian Rus´ settled by Slavic tribes known as the White Croats.

1699 The appearance of the first printed book for Carpatho-Rusyns.

1745 The first Carpatho-Rusyns moved to the Backa (Vojvodina) Region.

1830 The publication of the first grammar of the Carpatho-Rusyns language.

1847 The publication of the first school primer of the Carpatho-Rusyns language.

1867 The apppearance of the first Carpatho-Rusyns newspaper.

1880 The beginning of massive immigration to the United States, which continues to World War I.

1914 The Lemko Region in Poland was occupied by tsarist Russian troops.

1918 Rusyns in the Vojvodina join a Serb-dominated national congress and declare unity with the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia).

1919 Treaty of St. Germain recognises the unification of Rusyns south of the Carpathians with Czechoslovakia with guarantees for autonomy. Establishing the first university department of Rusyns studies at the University of Budapest.

1938 The autonomous government of Subcarpathian Rus´ was created. Province renamed Carpatho-Ukraine.
1939 Carpatho-Ukraine declares independence. It was soon after invaded and annexed to Hungary.

1944 National Council calls for unification of Subcarpathian Rus´(Transcarpathian Ukraine) with the Soviet Union.
1945 Ukrainian National Council established to represent the political interests of Carpatho- Rusyns in the Prešov Region.

1945-1946 Nearly 150 000 Lemko Rusyns and 12 000 Prešov Region Rusyns forcibly and voluntarily made to emigrate to the Soviet Ukraine.

1974 Vojvodina Region receives wide-ranging autonomy within Yugoslavia. Rusyns were designated as one of the regions five official nationalities.

1990 The Society of Carpatho-Rusyns was established for Rusyns in Subcarpathian Rus´. The Rusyn Renaissance Society is established for Rusyns in Slovakian. The Rusyns Matka Society was established for Vojvodinian Rusyns in Yugoslavia.

1991 The first World Congress of Rusyns was held in Slovakian. Independence of Ukraine confirmed. Over 78% of the inhabitants of Transcarpathia voted in favour of autonomy for their region.
1992 The Organisation of Rusyns in Hungary was established.

1993 The Institute of Rusyns Language and Culture established in Slovakian. A provisional government for an autonomous republic of Subcarpathian Rus´ was formed in Uzgorod.

1995 Rusyns literary language for Slovak was codified and proclaimed before government, state and academic officials in Bratislava.

Carpatho-Rusyns have never had their own independent state. Instead they have been ruled by several states throughout their history. Carpatho-Rusyns have struggled to achieve at least a reasonable amount of self-rule. Since 1994, the struggle for regional self-government has taken place within the chambers of the 51-member Tanscarpathian National Council, in which members there are several supporters of autonomy. Carpatho-Rusyns in neighbouring countries have also been active.

The demands of Carpatho-Rusyns in those countries are not political but rather cultural in nature. The basic aim is to have Rusyns recognised as a distinct nationality and to develop a Rusyns literary language for instruction in schools and use in other media such as the press.

Organizations:
Representative body of Subcarpathian Rus' (Ruthenia) is the Provisional Government, formed in 1993.

Statistics:
Population: 1.6 million total of which 45% live in the ancestral homeland
Language: Carpatho Rusyn
Religion: Christian