First human being appeared at the territory of Mogilev over 10 thous. years ago (late Paleolith and early Mesolite age) and by early iron age there were found permanent settlements of fishermen, hunters and cultivators. Exact date of Mogilev foundation is unknown, however, as per archeologic evidences, the settlement already existed in the Dnieper and Dubrovenka interfluve in 1002-1003, and as per records of Kiev Russia, Mogilev was one of «Kiev cities», i. e. was well-known.

History of Mogilev is a history of the city with centuries-old traditions of self-administration, dating back to Magdebourg right (16th century) and becoming part of the family of the most famous medieval European cities.

At the beginning of the 17th century the population of the city amounted to over 10 thous. people. Number of inhabitants varied within time, it decreased during war periods and increased depending on economy development and improvement of transport communications, however before 19th century there was almost no population growth.

Starting from 1772 Mogilev was the centre of Mogilev guberniya. Development of industry in the second half of the 19th century resulted in growth of population, even though urban development was held back by absence of railway communication. Peterbourg-Odessa railline started to run through Mogilev only in 1902. City population considerably decreased during the WWI and civil war. In 1930-s the city became a large industrial centre, meanwhile its population almost doubled. Nazi invasion caused great losses and damages. During this period almost 71,8 thous. people were killed in Mogilev and its region. During liberation the population of Mogilev amounted to 10 thous. people. City population reached its pre-war level only in the middle of 1950-s. By the beginning of 1989 number of citizens increased almost by 3,5 times compared to 1939.

The actual quantity of the resident population of Mogilev amounts to approx. 370 thousand people, what makes over 28% of population of Mogilev region, including over 42% of urban residents. Mogilev is the third biggest city in the republic after Minsk and Gomel.

Mogilev is motherland and birthplace of many famous people, such as diplomats N. Krestinsky, V. Loschilin, the president of the Hawaiian Republic  N. Sudzilovskiy, book printer S. Sobol, film director V. Turov, sculptor P. Jatzino , opera singer S. Migay, writer R. Fraerman, polar explorer, member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, the Hero of the Soviet Union  O. Shmidt and others.

Mogilev is a polyethnic and polyconfessional city in which over 110 nationalities reside together with Belarusians. Belasrussians make 85.9%. Russians-10,8% , Ukranians-1,7%, Jews-0,5%, Poles-0.2%, the rest 0,65% are Gipsies, Armenians, Tartars, Lithuanians, Moldavians, Chuvash, Azerbaijanians and other nationalities.

Educational level of Mogilev residents: for 1000 grownups there are 111 graduates and 228 people with specialized secondary education. Rate of graduates among working population makes 16%, specialists with specialized secondary education — 31%, general secondary education-27%.

Principal religion is Christianity: Orthodoxy and Catholicism.

Civil society. There are about 100 public associations: 41 org. structure of republican public associations, 7 political parties, 29 communities, 13 religious confessions, 7 national associations.