Based on the survey results, the most in demand online service is banking. One-third of Russians prefer buying clothes and gadgets offline.
MOSCOW, April 22, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a study describing how often Russians use the Internet and online services.
Banking is the most popular online service that Russians use (61%), especially the 18-24-year-old persons (77%) and residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (74%). This is followed by payment of taxes and fines (45%) which is mainly popular among the 25-34-year-olds (57%) and metropolitan residents (68%). Another popular online service is submission of meter readings and payment of utility bills (40%); 45% of respondents aged 45-49 and 66% of metropolitan residents use this service.
One-third of respondents (33%) often buy air and train tickets online (42% of the 18-24-year-olds and 67% of persons living in Moscow and St Petersburg). Twenty-nine percent of respondents prefer to make an appointment to see the doctor via the Internet (35% of the 18-24-year-olds; 34% of the 25-34-year-olds); a further 28% often do it offline (46% of residents of the Far Eastern district of Russia). A quarter of respondents (27%) book a taxi online; 29% do it without the Internet. Every fifth (21%) buys tickets to cinema, theatre and concerts online; however 22% prefer to do it offline.
As to offline services, the first position is held by clothes, electronic gadgets and domestic appliances that people buy offline: 35% of respondents do it without the Internet (vs 12% who do it online). Many Russians also prefer to get documents (such as letters or certificates) from the state bodies offline: 27% (34% of the 18-24-year-olds) vs 19% of online users.
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 18, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. 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 in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
What do you use the Internet for; and what do you usually do offline (without using the Internet)? (closed-ended question, one answer per line, % of those who use the Internet) | |||||
| Likely to do online | Likely to do offline | Equally online and offline | I never do it | Don’t know |
Banking (transfer, payment, etc.) | 61 | 9 | 12 | 18 | 0 |
Payment of state taxes, fines | 45 | 14 | 9 | 30 | 2 |
Submission of meter readings and payment of utility bills | 40 | 28 | 7 | 25 | 0 |
Purchase of air/train/bus tickets | 33 | 17 | 9 | 40 | 1 |
Fixing an appointment to see the doctor | 29 | 28 | 12 | 30 | 1 |
Taxi booking | 27 | 29 | 7 | 37 | 0 |
Purchase of tickets to cinema, theatre, concerns | 21 | 22 | 12 | 45 | 0 |
Getting documents, letters or certificates from state bodies | 19 | 27 | 17 | 36 | 1 |
Filing complaints and applications to state bodies | 14 | 9 | 8 | 69 | 0 |
Ordering food at restaurants, cafes | 13 | 14 | 9 | 64 | 0 |
Purchase of clothes, domestics appliances, gadgets at stores | 12 | 35 | 22 | 31 | 0 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!