Premarital sexual relations are perceived as normal nowadays compared to opinions 25 years ago; however, more than 20% of Russians still consider them totally unacceptable, both for young men and for young women.

MOSCOW, June 26, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey describing how the Russian attitudes towards premarital sexual relations have changed over the recent twenty-five years.

Today Russians are more loyal towards premarital sexual relations than 25 years ago. In 2014, the shares of young men and women who regard having sex before marriage as inappropriate have considerably decreased (21% and 26% in 2014; 29% and 37% in 1989, respectively). Elderly respondents are more conservative than young people: 42% of persons aged over 60 and 8% of 18-24-year-olds (young women – 47% and 16%, respectively) think this type of behavior is not acceptable. Every fourth (26%) is tolerant towards sexual relationships between a young man and his future wife; every third (32%) is loyal towards this kind of relationships between a girl and her future husband.

There has been an increase in the share of respondents approving sexual relations with different partners; they are male respondents who are loyal towards men having sexual relationships with any woman before marriage (increase from 11% to 27%), and female respondents who appreciate young women having sex with men (from 6% from 20%). Certain respondents consider premarital sex not only appropriate but useful (13% of young men, 9% of young women). 

Starting sexual life is good at the age of 18-19, according to half of respondents who approve of premarital sex (48% in 1989 and 49% in 2014).  Seventeen percent of respondents believe that sexual debut should be at the age of 16-17; on the contrary, 23% think that this is not something to hurry up with, it is better to wait until 20 years old.

Today premarital sexual relations are approved by more Russians than in the Soviet times (59% vs. 41%). About one-third of Russians say that sex before marriage is popular but not too much (29%). Interestingly, the same share of respondents (3%) as before believes that today premarital sex is rare.

The main reason behind the popularity of premarital sex is moral decline, 52% of respondents say (42% in 1989). More Russians cite imitating western way of life among reasons (from 14% to 34%). Others complain about insufficient sexual education (31%), early physical maturation (29%), and changing perceptions of love (27%), etc.

Most of Russians mention the spread of sexually transmitted diseases among top negative consequences of premarital sex (56%). Others mention the increase in the number of the abandoned children (46%), fragile families, and families created out of necessity (37%). The share of those who cite rising infertility rate due to abortions has increased from 21% to 40%. Respondents also mention difficulties getting education because of the early pregnancy (from 12% to 27%), and deteriorating relations with the older generations (from 12% to 25%).

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted December 6-7, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 settlements in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.

*The survey was carried out in 1989; all-Russian representative sample included 1075 persons aged 16 and over living in urban and rural areas.

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!