MOSCOW, 20 November 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring study devoted to the level of happiness in Russia.

An October survey conducted by VCIOM reveals that 79% of Russians feel happy, including a third who say they are definitely happy (31%), аnd almost every second who reports to be likely happy (48%). The total share of happy Russians is similar to the share who said this in the first half of 2024 г.[1], however there is a subtle seasonal dependence. Indeed, higher happiness levels (including absolute happiness) were recorded in early 2024 (January — March, 83-84%) and in the first month of summer (June — 83%). As autumn was approaching, in August, the overall percentage dropped to 78%. Fluctuations are related to changes in the absolute happiness levels – the share of those who can confidently call themselves “a happy person”. In comparison with the same period of the previous year the level of absolute happiness has declined by 6 p.p. (37% in October 2023) at the expense of the number of those who are “moderately happy”, and is not reflected on the overall figure. Remarkably, different external circumstances of the recent years did not beat Russians – they were happy both during the coronavirus pandemics (2020 — 81-84%), and during the difficult year of 2022 (February - December — 80-84%), which cannot be said about the remote 1990s, where the happiness levels in Russia was fluctuating within a range from 42% to 60%, whereas the number of totally happy people was within a range from 2% (February 1992) to 16% (February 1998).

Happiness Index*, calculated as the difference of the sum of positive and negative answers, is currently at 62 p. out of 100 possible points, which is 3 p. lower compared to the same period in 2023 (65 p. in October 2023). Since January 2024 the highest index value was recorded twice – in February and June (71 p.).  

Over the recent year Russians have noticed both happy and unhappy people around them: 46% in October 2023; 42% in March 2024; 47% currently. According to 37% of respondents, they are primarily surrounded by happy people; only 11% say they are surrounded by unhappy people.

Perceptions of the people around may change. In early March 2023 Russians said their friends and relatives were mainly happy (42%); in 2022 opinions were equally divided: 40-43% said there were more happy people; the same share said there were more unhappy people.

Social index of happiness** in the latest October survey made up 58 p. at the maximum permitted value of 90 p. exceeding the previous figures of the same period by 7 p. (October 2021 — 51 p.).
 

* 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 your 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.

 All-Russian VCIOM-Sputnik telephone survey was conducted October 30, 2024. 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 October 30, 2024:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7639; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0203; response rate (RR)*** = 0.0714. Calculations are based on corporate standard 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.

* March 2023 data are of the beginning of the month (10.03), whereas monthly average is available at the website.

** 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