How long did the former Soviet Union last?

The Soviet Union lasted from 1922 to 1991. The Soviet state itself was established in 1917, but the entire country was not united until Russia joined the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Soviet Union was the first state created based on Marxist socialism.

Prior to the revolution in 1989 after Gorbachev's policy changes, the Communist Party indirectly controlled all areas and levels of government. The early years of the Soviet Union saw many changes, including government taking on the industrial and agricultural sectors. There were points during Stalin's rule where people were taken to labor camps or killed for speaking out against the Communist Party or its rulers.