MOSCOW, 12 May 2025. VCIOM Analytical Center presents the findings of a survey describing how Russian views of marriage and children have changed over the two decades.
Views of marriage
As twenty years ago, marriage is viewed differently: there has been a shift from universal, traditional reasons to enter into marriage towards individualistic motives. Although love and continuation of the family line are the top motives, their importance has declined. Continuation of the family line shows a considerable decline (2005 — 39%, 2025 — 25%). In a nutshell, parenthood is being detached from marriage duties; the “marriage-children” junction is weakening.
Avoiding loneliness by means of marriage has also become a less important reason behind getting married: more respondents are eager to live without a marriage partner. Marriage of convenience has also become less common.
The only reason that has solidified the desire to enter into marriage over the recent 20 years is to marry according to religious and national values, as it is “a tradition” (mentioned three times as often compared to 2005). In a way, a ritual motive is a replacement for functional and emotional motives, as marriage is becoming more symbolic. This is especially true for young respondents aged under 25 who place it second, paying less attention to continuation of the family line and avoiding loneliness.
What a woman chooses
Survey findings show a shift in public views towards a softer and more balanced model of maternity and work. Every second respondent considers optimal for a woman to quit her job after she has had a child and to return to work when the child turns 3: an increase of 16 p.p. compared to 2005.
Simultaneously, extreme patterns, such as “returning to work after giving birth” or “quitting job for long after giving birth” are less supported. Also, fewer respondents opt for staying at home until the child starts to go to school or devoting yourself entirely to family. Respondents strive to find a balance between maternity and employment, with both components being present in life.
Desired vs Expected
Average expected and desired numbers of children have considerably increased over the recent twenty years. In 2005 the average expected number of children was 1.9; in 2025, 2.4. The desired number of children has increased even more (from 2.4 to 3.2). Thus, reproductive ideals have become more oriented towards having many children; at the same time, more respondents also show willingness to make these plans come true, though to a lesser extent.
A discrepancy between the desired and the expected number of children points to a reproductive gap: many respondents would like to have more children than they think it is possible. In 2005, this gap was an average of 0.5 children; in 2025, it makes up 0.8. This indicates that the barriers to the implementation of reproductive plans are still present.
Focus on fathers!
Men are more likely to be optimistic about having children than women: the expected number of children mentioned by male respondents has increased from 2.0 to 2.6; the desired number, from 2.5 to 3.6. On the contrary, women are more reserved: they expect 2.3 children and want to have 2.8.
Pregnant at 45
The biggest average desired number of children is reported by middle-aged respondents (aged 35-59), those who are prime-aged or who have gone through the reproductive stage. This indicator has significantly increased over the recent twenty years. For example, the desired number of children in the group of those aged 35-44 increased from 2.4 to 3.4; and in the group of those aged 45-59, from 2.4 to 3.3. Older reproductive age group also reports to have regrets concerning unfulfilled reproductive potential.
As to young respondents (aged 18—24), there has also been an increase in the number of the desired children (from 2.1 to 3.1), and the expected children (from 1.9 to 2.4), which indicates that a positive image of a family with many children has strengthened among the youth.
All-Russian VCIOM-Sputnik telephone survey was conducted April 25, 2025. A total of 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interview, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-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.
Key effectiveness indicators, survey of April 25, 2025: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7631; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0179; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1113. Calculations are based on corporate standard:
* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.
** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.
** RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.
Why do you think people marry today? (close-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2005* | 2025 |
To be together with the person they love | 50 | 45 |
To continue the family line | 39 | 25 |
Not to be alone, to secure a stable old age | 26 | 17 |
According to religious and national traditions, as it’s a tradition | 5 | 16 |
Marriage of convenience, to find a partner not only for family but for career, business etc. | 16 | 11 |
To have a reliable sexual partner | 6 | 4 |
Other | 1 | 9 |
Don’t know | 8 | 11 |
* Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (Express project); stratified multi-stage sample, with quotas based on socio-demographic parameters; representative of the Russian population aged 18+, according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.
Why do you think people marry today? (close-ended question, up to 2 answers, % of total respondents) | |||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Digital generation (2001 and later) | Younger Millennials (1992—2000) | Older Millennials (1982—1991) | Reform generation (1968—1981) | Stagnation generation (1948—1967) | Thaw generation (before 1947) |
To be together with the person they love | 45 | 42 | 48 | 50 | 57 | 49 | 44 | 40 | 35 |
To continue the family line | 25 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 20 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 20 |
Not to be alone, to secure a stable old age | 17 | 15 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 19 |
According to religious and national traditions, as it’s a tradition | 16 | 17 | 15 | 24 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 10 |
Marriage of convenience, to find a partner not only for family but for career, business etc. | 11 | 12 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 9 | 10 |
To have a reliable sexual partner | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Other | 9 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
Don’t know | 11 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 19 |
In modern conditions many women have to combine family, children and work. In your opinion, what is better for the modern women to do? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2005* | 2025 |
It is better not to have a family at all | 3 | 1 |
To have a spouse (partner) but not to have children | 3 | 4 |
Not to quit job even if they have children | 22 | 12 |
Quit job after having children and raise children up to age 3, then get back to work | 33 | 49 |
Quit job after having children and raise children up to school age, then get back to work | 14 | 11 |
Quit job permanently after having children and devote oneself to family | 14 | 10 |
Don’t know | 11 | 14 |
*Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (Express project); stratified multi-stage sample, with quotas based on socio-demographic parameters; representative of the Russian population aged 18+, according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.
In modern conditions many women have to combine family, children and work. In your opinion, what is better for the modern women to do? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
It is better not to have a family at all | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
To have a spouse (partner) but not to have children | 4 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Not to quit job even if they have children | 12 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 15 |
Quit job after having children and raise children up to age 3, then get back to work | 49 | 46 | 51 | 43 | 49 | 48 | 51 | 49 |
Quit job after having children and raise children up to school age, then get back to work | 11 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
Quit job permanently after having children and devote oneself to family | 10 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 8 |
Don’t know | 13 | 19 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 16 |
How many children will you have in your family (including the existing children)? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2005* | 2025 |
Those who gave an answer | 90 | 72 |
No children/I won’t have children | 6 | 18 |
Don’t know | 4 | 10 |
Average | 1.9 | 2.4 |
* Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (Express project); stratified multi-stage sample, with quotas based on socio-demographic parameters; representative of the Russian population aged 18+, according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.
How many children will you have in your family (including the existing children)? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Those who gave an answer | 72 | 73 | 70 | 90 | 82 | 79 | 67 | 60 |
No children/I won’t have children | 18 | 16 | 21 | 4 | 11 | 12 | 25 | 26 |
Don’t know | 10 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 14 |
Average | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
How many children would you like to have in an ideal scenario, not taking into account your current conditions? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2005* | 2025 |
Those who gave an answer | 94 | 90 |
No children/I won’t have children | 2 | 5 |
Don’t know | 4 | 5 |
Average | 2.4 | 3.2 |
*Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (Express project); stratified multi-stage sample, with quotas based on socio-demographic parameters; representative of the Russian population aged 18+, according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.
How many children would you like to have in an ideal scenario, not taking into account your current conditions? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Those who gave an answer | 90 | 89 | 91 | 95 | 94 | 93 | 90 | 84 |
No children/I won’t have children | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
Don’t know | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
Average | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
Comparison of the expected and the desired number of children in 2005* and in 2025 | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
| Expected number of children | |||||||
2005 | 1,9 | 2,0 | 1,8 | 1,9 | 1,8 | 1,8 | 1,9 | 2,0 |
2025 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Desired number of children | |||||||
2005 | 2,4 | 2,5 | 2,3 | 2,1 | 2,3 | 2,4 | 2,4 | 2,5 |
2025 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
* Before 2017, surveys were conducted through household face-to-face interviews (Express project); stratified multi-stage sample, with quotas based on socio-demographic parameters; representative of the Russian population aged 18+, according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.
Author: Tatyana Smak