MOSCOW, December 04, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing public views of expected and optimal lifespan.
Different people in different epochs defined and define age boundary followed by old age in different ways. Nowadays Russians cite 62 as the start of old age.
On average, with modern lifestyles and in current circumstances respondents expect to live up to 78. At the same time, women expect to be able to live to 81, and men, to 74. The minimum age mentioned by respondents is 30 (37 mentioned by women; 30, mentioned by men). Under optimal conditions, Russians say they could live to 85 and even have a maximum lifespan of 200 years.
According to the survey, the most common problems senior citizens have to face are poverty, low pensions (71%), poor health, various diseases (44%), as well as a feeling of uselessness, being unwanted (19%) and loneliness (17%).
Elderly persons evoke respect among people around in Russia (54%). Forty-three percent of respondents think that elderly persons are treated with disrespect; they are mainly residents of million-plus cities (48%).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on November 26, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. 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.
Different people in different epochs defined and define age boundary followed by old age in different ways. In your opinion, what age should be considered as the start of old age in Russia nowadays? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||
| Age | Men | Women |
Average | 62 | 60 | 63 |
| Total respondents |
|
|
Under 40 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
40-49 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
50-54 | 17 | 19 | 15 |
55-59 | 19 | 20 | 17 |
60-64 | 21 | 26 | 17 |
65-69 | 10 | 8 | 12 |
70-74 | 11 | 8 | 14 |
75-79 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
80 + | 6 | 3 | 8 |
Don’t know | 6 | 5 | 7 |
Expected and “ideal” lifespan (based on the answers to open-ended questions) | |||||||||
| Minimum age cited | Men | Women | Average | Men | Women | Maximum age cited | Men | Women |
Giving the same conditions and lifestyle you are living now, how long are you going to live? | 30 | 30 | 37 | 78 | 74 | 81 | 150 | 150 | 150 |
How long could you live under optimal conditions and lifestyle? | 50 | 50 | 50 | 85 | 84 | 86 | 200 | 200 | 200 |
In your opinion, what are the main problems senior citizens are facing today? | |
| Total respondents |
Poverty, low pensions | 71 |
Health deterioration, diseases | 44 |
A feeling of uselessness, being unwanted in society | 19 |
Loneliness | 17 |
Disrespectful behavior in young people | 12 |
Difficulties using digital technologies: phones, Internet, etc. | 12 |
Fear of future | 10 |
Uselessness, dependence on children, grandchildren | 8 |
A feeling of uselessness, being unwanted in the family | 8 |
Lack of active lifestyle | 7 |
Indifference from the state, public bodies (from "other") | 5 |
Lack of interest in life | 3 |
Employment difficulties (from "other") | 1 |
Other | 1 |
Don't know | 3 |
In your opinion, what is the attitude of most Russians towards senior citizens today – do they respect or disrespect them? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950 thousand inhabitants | 100–500 thousand | Less than 100 | Rural area |
Definitely respect | 8 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 13 |
Rather respect | 44 | 55 | 42 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 39 |
Rather disrespect | 34 | 32 | 37 | 32 | 36 | 31 | 35 |
Definitely disrespect | 9 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
Don’t know | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 |