The number of SMEs in Russia has set a new record

As a result of updating the register of SMEs, the number of registered small and medium-sized enterprises in the country exceeded 6.56 million, setting a record since their accounting began. At the same time, the number of self-employed reached 10.2 million people.
Since the beginning of 2024, last year's trend of an increasing number of entrepreneurs has continued: by the end of 2023, the number of SMEs increased by 5.9% compared to 2022.

"At the beginning of 2024, the trend of increasing the number of small and medium-sized businesses continued. This indicates that the sector has successfully overcome the consequences of the sanctions shocks of recent years. This was also facilitated by the implementation of a set of support measures for the SME sector within the framework of the national project 'Small and Medium Enterprises,' approved by the President," said Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak.

At the same time, almost half of the SMEs created since the beginning of 2024 are engaged in retail and wholesale trade (38.2%), transportation (7.8%), and construction activities (5.9%).

"Approximately 2.34 million legal entities are registered in the SME register. Of these, microenterprises account for about 2.14 million units, small enterprises — 184 thousand, and medium enterprises — 18 thousand. The number of individual entrepreneurs in the country is almost twice as many — 4.2 million units," noted the Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Maxim Reshetnikov.

"Today, small and medium-sized businesses are full participants in the national economy, ensuring import substitution, developing production, and creating new jobs. In 2023, the share of SME loans in the total volume of lending reached 21%. For comparison, in 2020 this figure was only 10%. At the same time, the number of SME loans nearly doubled (by 72%), and by the end of 2023, they accounted for 92% of all issued loans. This indicates that small and medium-sized businesses strive for development and scaling," emphasized the CEO of the SME Corporation, Alexander Isaevich.