Today most of Russians do not smoke. Half of smokers are willing to quit smoking in the near future.
MOSCOW, August 21, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to anti-tobacco measures.
Based on VCIOM-Sputnik daily survey, over a year the share of smokers in Russia has almost stayed the same – about one-third of the population (30%; 32% in 2017). However, smoking intensity is extremely high: 18% of all respondents smoke at least one pack of cigarettes a day.
Half of the surveyed smokers (53%) are eager to abandon smoking in the near future. This share is higher among those aged 25-34 (64%). A further 17% consider quitting smoking some time later. More than a quarter (28%) of those respondents who smoke are not willing to get rid of this bad habit; they are basically respondents aged 60 and over (46%).
Despite the fact that the opinion polls suggest a decline in the number of smokers in Russia (from 35% in 2014 to 30% in 2018), half of respondents (49%) gave negative answers when asked whether the number of smokers in Russia had decreased over four years. Thirty-six percent of respondents say the number of smokers has declined, whereas 11% oppose this stance. Those who point to the decrease are mainly respondents aged 45-59 (40%); the increase is mentioned by the 18-24-year-olds (20%).
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on August 13, 2018. 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.
The 2009-2016 results are based on household surveys.
Do you smoke or not? If yes, how often? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||||||
| 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | I.2017 | V.2017 | 2018 |
One pack of cigarettes a day or more | 21 | 21 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 18 |
Several cigarettes almost every day | 16 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
Sometimes several cigarettes a day or a month | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
I quitted smoking and I have not smoked for a while | 8 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 19 | 20 |
I never smoked | 51 | 52 | 48 | 52 | 55 | 57 | 47 | 49 | 50 |
Don’t know | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Do you consider quitting smoking or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who smoke) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
I consider quitting smoking in the near future | 53 | 46 | 64 | 58 | 48 | 41 |
I consider quitting smoking in the long term | 17 | 43 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 12 |
I do not consider quitting smoking | 28 | 9 | 21 | 26 | 33 | 46 |
Don’t know | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
In your opinion, do Russians smoke more or less now than four years ago? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2017 | 2018 |
They smoke more now | 10 | 11 |
They smoke less now | 33 | 36 |
They smoke the same amount of tobacco as before | 54 | 49 |
Don’t know | 3 | 4 |
In your opinion, do Russians smoke more or less now than four years ago? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) 2018 | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over |
They smoke more now | 11 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 11 |
They smoke less now | 36 | 26 | 33 | 36 | 40 | 37 |
They smoke the same amount of tobacco as before | 49 | 53 | 52 | 54 | 47 | 43 |
Don’t know | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
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!