MOSCOW, 18 April 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring study describing the happiness levels in Russia.

Certain countries are launching the so-called ministries of happiness.  A November survey carried out by VCIOM shows that more than half of Russians are skeptical about launching a similar ministry in Russia (56%). They often say that achieving a universal happiness is not possible (19% of those who oppose the idea). A recent monitoring study confirms a steadily high level of happiness regardless of the external factors. Since January 2022 the percentage of Russians who say they are happy, to a varying degree, has been at about 80-85%. The latest percentage is 84%: in March 2024 almost half of Russians said they were likely happy (48%); a further 36% considered themselves “very happy”. Fourteen percent of Russians did not consider themselves happy. The Happiness index*, calculated as the difference of the sum of positive and negative answers, exceeded the October 2023 figure, reaching 70 p. out of 100 possible points (+5 p. over half a year). 

The highest levels of happiness were recorded in late 2017 (40% in XII.2017[1]); the lowest levels fell on the Perestroika era (VI.1990 — 5%, V.1991 — 8%, II.1992 — 2%). Fortunately, new challenges in the history of the modern Russia did not cause a similar sharp drop in happiness levels. This is also true for the crisis 2008-2009 (19-22%), the 2020 pandemic (31-37%), and the first year of the special military operation (32-37% in 2022).   

The share of those who are surrounded by happy people has increased from 36% in October to 41%, back to the March 2023 levels (10 March 2023 — 42%). Another 42% say that the number of happy people is equal to the number of unhappy people; and only 10% say there are more unhappy people around them.

Russians were mostly viewed as the happiest by the people who surrounded them twelve years ago: every second respondent believed that there were more happy people among their friends and relatives (49% in 2012), whereas the index reached a record high of 62 p. out of 90 possible points. The latest survey reveals that the index is at 59 p., which is similar to the figures of the previous two years.  

* Happiness index shows how happy Russians feel. The Index is based on the question: “Life is full of good and bad moments. But in general, are you happy or not?”. It is calculated as the difference of the sum of positive answers («definitely yes”, “rather yes”) and negative answers (“rather no”, “definitely no”).  The index is measured in points and ranges from -100 to 100.  The higher the index, the happier Russians feel.

** Social index of happiness shows if there are more happy or unhappy people around. The index is based on the question: “In your opinion, are there more happy or unhappy people among you relatives and friends? The answer “more happy people” corresponds to the coefficient 0.9; “equally happy and unhappy people”, 0.5; “more unhappy people”, 0.1. The index is measured in points and ranges from 10 to 90. The higher the index, the happier Russians are viewed by other Russians.

VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted 27 March, 2024. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18+ were surveyed. Survey method: telephone interviews, 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 27 March, 2024:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.8012; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0145; response rate (RR)*** = 0.0818.  calculations are based on corporate standards: https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/

* 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.

* As in the previous press release, the March data are of the beginning of the month (10 March), whereas the data published on the website show monthly average.

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.

[1] Monthly dynamic of the indicator is available on our website: https://wciom.ru/ratings/indeks-schastja