Different sides of life in Russian society in the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century were carefully examined by zemstvo statisticians. For almost fifty years they carefully recorded data on millions of peasant household and large estates of the nobility, as well as on permanent manufacturing facilities, health care and primary education, migration, etc.

Few countries can rival Russia with respect to accuracy and diversity of statistical data collected in the period between 1870 and 1917. The main topic of zemstvo statistical studies was the agricultural economy. Statisticians interviewed an estimated total of 4.5 million peasant families, and the list covering this work includes about 3.500 items.

The bulk of zemstvo material comprises: