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According to the survey, the Russian Navy is the strongest in the world; this opinion has strengthened in recent years.

MOSCOW, July 31, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to the attitudes of Russians toward the Russian Navy.

An overwhelming majority of Russians consider that the Russian navy is the strongest in the world (67%). The U.S. Navy holds second place (40%), and the Chinese Navy is ranked third (15%).

Today more Russians consider that the Russian Navy is capable of protecting maritime borders in case of a threat (89% vs 70% in 2005); they are opposed by 6% of respondents.

Eighty-five percent of respondents believe that serving in the Navy is prestigious; 56% would support the decision of their children/grandchildren to serve in the Navy. As fourteen years ago, almost every fifth Russian has a relative or friend who serves in the Russian Navy (17% s 18% in 2005). Predominantly male respondents say so (26%).

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 26, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and 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.

What Navy do you consider to be the strongest in the world?

 (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respodnents, answers of at least 1% of respondents)

 

Total

Russia

67

USA

40

China

15

Great Britain

11

Japan

3

France

2

Turkey

1

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

1

Germany

1

India

1

Don’t know

24

In your opinion, is the Russian Navy capable of protecting the Russian maritime borders against military threat coming from other countries? (closed-ended question, one answer,  % of total respondents)

 

2005

2019

Definitely yes

30

51

Rather yes

40

38

Rather not

17

4

Definitely not

5

2

Don’t know

8

5

In your opinion, is it prestigious to serve in the Russian Navy today?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

Prestigious

49

Rather prestigious

36

Rather not prestigious

3

Not prestigious

2

Don’t know

10

If you have (had) children/grandchildren, would you like them to become a naval officer?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

Definitely yes

17

Rather yes

39

Rather not

20

Definitely not

11

Don’t know

13

Do you have friends/relatives who serve/work in the Russian Navy?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

2005

2019

Yes

18

17

No

80

82

Don’t know

2

1

Do you have friends/relatives who serve/work in the Russian Navy?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total

Men

Women

Yes

17

26

10

No

82

74

89

Don’t know

1

0

1

 

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.

 

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