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 grew by 5.9% compared to 2022.

"At the beginning of 2024, the trend of increasing the number of small and medium 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 measures to support the SME sector under the national project 'Small and Medium Entrepreneurship,' approved by the President," — emphasized Deputy Prime Minister 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 work (5.9%).

"About 2.34 million legal entities are registered in the SME register. Of these, micro-enterprises account for about 2.14 million units, small enterprises — 184 thousand, and medium-sized enterprises — 18 thousand. The number of individual entrepreneurs in the country is almost twice as large — 4.2 million units," — noted Russian Minister of Economic Development 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 almost doubled (by 72%), and by the end of 2023 they accounted for 92% of all issued loans. This indicates that small and medium businesses are striving for development and scaling," — noted CEO of the SME Corporation Alexander Isaevich.