The Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) dates back to the "Kievan Rus" period (the first organized Russian state). In 988, Prince Vladimir, in order to gain an alliance with the powerful Byzantine Empire, declared Christianity as the religion of his realm and mandated the baptism of Kiev's population and the construction of cathedrals. During the Mongol occupation (1240-1480), the head of the ROC (Metropolitan) was moved to Moscow. Throughout the reign of the tsars, Orthodoxy was synonymous with autocracy and national identity. After the Communist revolution of 1917, the Soviet government, based on Marxism, imposed a dogma of militant atheism and subordinated the ROC through fear and persecution. Other Christians, Muslims, and Jews were also oppressed (anti-Semitism was widespread before and after the 1917 revolution). Since 1985 and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union, thousands of churches have been reopened; freedom of religion was incorporated into the draft constitution of 1993.

According to a 2004 report from the Ministry of Justice, there were about 21,664 registered religious groups in the country. The Russian Orthodox Church had the largest number, at about 11,525 registered groups. It is estimated that about 50% of the population describe consider themselves to be Russian Orthodox, but a much smaller percentage are actually active church members. Other Orthodox denominations include the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, the True Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Free Church, and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Islam is the largest minority religion, with about 3,537 registered groups and, perhaps over 1,000 unregistered groups. Muslims are believed to make up about 14% of the population. Protestants make up the third-largest group of the country with a variety of denominations, including Pentecostals (1,467 groups), Baptists (979 groups), Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and the Church of Christ. There are also registered groups of Seventh-Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses (386 groups), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mennonites, and the Salvation Army. The Molokane (28 groups) and Dukhobor are Christian-based movements that originated in Russia. There are about 267 Jewish registered groups, with an estimated 600,000-1,000,000 Jews in the country. There are 80 groups of Hare Krishnas. Hindus, Scientologists, Taoists, Baha'is, Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Karaites, and shamanists are also represented. There are about 11 registered pagan groups.

The 1997 Law on Freedom of Conscience does not claim a state religion but recognizes Russian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism as traditional religions. Theoretically, no special privileges are granted to these traditional religions; however, the ROC has made special agreements with the government that seem to place the church in a preferred status. Many citizens and government officials consider the acceptance or practice of Russian Orthodoxy to be a form of nationalism. Though registration is not required, many groups do so in order to enjoy certain tax and legal benefits. Some minority groups have reported incidents of discrimination and harassment on social and local political levels.