06 August 2021. VCIOM presents the data of a survey describing the country Russians would like to be born in and move to, if they had an opportunity.

Three-quarters of Russians would like to be born in the same country they live in today – Russia (75%). Hardly 2% would choose any other country as a place of birth. There are also those who really regret that they were born in Russia (4%).      

The list of countries Russians would NOT like to be born in is headed by the U.S.A.  (14%; +5 p.p. compared to 2005) and African countries (11%). Three percent of respondents (for each group) would not choose India and China.

In case of forced migration, Russians would primarily choose Germany as the country to go to (9%). A further 5% point out Belarus (it was not mentioned in 2005). Three percent of respondents (for each group) opted for Canada and the U.S.A. More than a third of Russians failed to name the country they would go to (37%).

Even in the case of forced migration Russians would not go to the U.S.A. (18%), African countries (7%) and Ukraine (6%; no one mentioned this country in 2005).

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on December 30, 2021. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.