- District of Sheksna
- District of Cherepovets
- District of Chagoda
- District of Kharovsk
- District of Ustyuzhna
- District of Ust'-Kubinskoye
- District of Tot'ma
- District of Tarnoga
- District of Syamzha
- District of Sokol
- District of Nyuksenitsa
- District of Nikolsk
- District of Mezhdurech'ye
- District of Kichmengsky Gorodok
- District of Kirillov
- District of Kadui
- District of Gryazovets
- Vologda
- Cherepovets
- District of Vytegra
- District of Vologda
- District of Vozhega
- District of Verkhovazh'ye
- District of Veliky Ustyug
- District of Vashki
- District of Belozersk
- District of Babushkino
- District of Babaevo
Economy
As of January 1, 2024, 1121343 people live in the Vologda Oblast.
The Vologda Region is an industrial region. Industry makes up the basis of the region's economy amounting for 40,0% in the structure of the gross regional product.
In the branch structure of industry, metallurgical engineering, chemical industry, timber industry, production of finished metal products, food industry, production of machinery and equipment, production and distribution of electricity, gas and water take a dominating position.
Manufacturing is a major component of Vologda's industry structure (95.2%), production and distribution of electricity and gas account for 3.6% in the branch structure of industry, water supply, drainage, and disposal - 1.1%, mining - 0.1 %.
The leading industries are metallurgical production, chemical industry, wood processing and production of wood products, and food industry.
In 2023, the volume of investments into fixed assets aimed at the development of the region's economy amounted to 168,8 billion rubles.
In order to increase the investment attractiveness of the Vologda Region, numerous events are being held aimed at stimulating the activity of investors in the region and creating comfortable conditions for doing business.
Structure of the gross regional product in 2022:
- manufacturing - 53.8%;
- transportation and storage - 8.5%;
- wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles - 7.2%;
- construction - 3.9%;
- real estate operations - 5.8%;
- agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing and fish farming - 4%;
- public administration and military security; social security – 4.5%;
- activities in the field of health and social services - 2.8%;
- education - 2.7%
- other - 6.8%.
In 2022 the volume of gross regional product reached RUR 1024,2 bln.
Gross regional product, bln roubles
Significant investment projects of the region are implemented in the industries, which are considered to be fundamental for the Vologda Region - metallurgical, chemical and timber industries.
The ferrous industry has always been the major source of revenue in the region. Over the years such industries as food processing, machine building, timber and glass industries increased production and became more competitive.
The Vologda Oblast Government gives considerable support to its agricultural sector. The region is more than self-sufficient in nearly all major products- milk, meat, eggs.
Metallurgy industry of the oblast has always been economically-efficient and technology intensive. The city of Cherepovets is home to the Region's steel industry. Severstal is the largest producer of rolled products in Russia. It produces a wide range of hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheet steel, zinc and aluminozinc plated sheets, steel wire and steel rope, pig iron, and other iron and steel products.
Although the Vologda Oblast is first of all a metallurgical region, there is a good potential in other spheres too, such as chemical, timber and agricultural ones.
Forests occupy over 81 percent of the Vologda Region. Within the last years timber industry has been rapidly developing owing to an abundant stock of wood - 1,6 bln cu m.
The authorities of the Vologda Oblast seek to expand foreign trade and encourage technological innovation of the timber industry, supplying the sector with state-of-the-art and efficient equipment. The local government attached considerable attention to this industry by establishing an international annual "Russian Forest" Exhibition-Fair.
The Vologda Oblast has advanced mechanical engineering. The region's machine building industry includes the Vologda Bearing Plant which produces bearings, the Vologda Machine Tool Plant which manufactures technical equipment for wood processing, the Vologda Optical and Mechanical Plant specializing in optics and household electrical equipment, the Vologda Machine Building Plant producing equipment and spare parts for dairies, mini-bakeries and mini-breweries.
Engineering industry is oriented at manufacturing products that will have a ready market in Russia and abroad. Most enterprises of machine building are certified according to the highest quality standards and in agreement with ISO 9001:2000. Obtaining such a certificate is a sign for clients and customers that the services focus on quality and are run with efficiency.
Maching-building enterprises are involved in exhibition activities. Participation in fairs and exhibitions gives an opportunity to establish new business contacts and promote company's brand among customers. This is the best way to attract more potential customers.
The Vologda Region is also a region of high-intensity chemical industry. The bulk of the Region's chemical products is produced by Phosagro (Cherepovets, Vologda Region). It is a vertically integrated Russian company and one of the world’s leading phosphate-based fertilizer producers.
Glass manufacturing industry of the Vologda Oblast is represented by the following large enterprises: OOO Chagoda glass-works and Co, OOO Severnaya glassware company and an affiliate of Ruscam Glass Packaging Holding.
Over a few years the Vologda Oblast turned into a leading producer of glassware in the North-West of Russia. Every 9th bottle produced in Russia is manufactured at Vologda's glass-works. The companies produce wine, champagne, beer bottles (0,2 - 1 L), glassware for household chemical goods, chemicals and other fluids.
The Vologda Oblast is also characterized by a highly-developed agroindustrial complex. There is a growing demand for the products of the land which are grown by traditional methods and are biologically sound and additive-free. The region is more than self-sufficient in nearly all major products. It produces close to 100% of its needs for cereals, flax fibre, meat, dairy products, poultry meat and vegetables. Farmers of the Vologda area are amongst the most productive in Russia. They supply the essential foodstuffs for the region, they feed other parts of Russia as well. Leading branches of agriculture are plant growing and cattle breeding. The Vologda region is in top ten Russian regions in terms of milk and eggs production per head.
The region is highy integrated into the world economy. The Region's businesses export ferrous and non-ferrous metals, hardware, chemical products, timber and lumber, industrial machinery and other products. PAO Severstal, OAO Severstal-metiz, PhosAgro, ZAO Vologda Bearing Factory are leaders in export supplies.
A few years ago the Sheksna Industrial Park and later the Sokol industrial Park were founded in the Vologda Oblast at the intersection of the main Russian transportation lines. They are approved as an economic-technological development areas in the region. They are entitled to preferential policies as both economic and technological areas and as national-level high-tech industrial parks.
Enterprises in the industrial parks may take advantage of the preferential policies. The industrial parks encourage the development of industries and businesses which are economically efficient, high in added value and technology intensive.
The main purpose of the economic policy of the Vologda Oblast Government is to raise the living standards and provide stable economic development of all branches of the Oblast's economy.