Marriage is necessary, but divorce depends on circumstances.
MOSCOW, July 8, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey describing Russian attitudes towards marriage and divorce and the appropriate age to get married.
Over the recent two years the attitudes of Russians towards marriage have not changed much: most of Russians consider it is important to have a family and register a relationship (78% in 2017 and 77% in 2019). This stance is especially typical of respondents aged over 60 (84%). They are also supported by 11% of those who think that marriage registration is not important to build a family; they are mainly young respondents aged 18-24 (17%) and 25-34(18%).
The best age for marriage has not changed over the recent two years: 24 y.o. for women (an average based on the answers of 94% respondents), which is one year later than in the 2017 survey; for men the appropriate age to enter into a marriage is the same – 27 y.o. (an average based on the answers of 94% respondents).
As 29 years ago, most of Russians consider divorce acceptable (80% in 1990 and 89% in 2019); however in recent years they have adopted a more practical stance: 56% say decision about divorce can be different in each case; this share was lower in 1990 (36%). One-third of respondents do not approve of divorce if family is almost broken down (30% vs 39% in 1990); a further 10% (vs 13% in 1990) strongly oppose dissolution of a marriage no matter what the reason for this is.
Generally, Russians think that hardly anything can influence the decision to divorce once the decision has been made (36% vs 29% in 1990). Over the recent 29 years the importance of the following factors affecting divorce decisions has increased: failure to solve the child-rearing problems (34% vs 25% in 1990) and financial dependence of one of spouses (25% vs 7% in 1990).
Compared to 2015, the following reasons to save marriage are mentioned less frequently: division of property and assets (19% vs 26% in 2015), national and religious traditions (15% vs 18% in 2015), spouse’s disagreement to divorce (10% s 19% in 2015), condemnation by relatives and friends (10% vs 13% in 2015) and a complicated character of the procedure (8% vs 12% in 2015).
The main reasons for divorce have not changed much over the recent six years. About half of respondents point to poverty, unemployment and lack of opportunities to provide for the family (46% vs 21% in 2013), infidelity and jealousy (22% vs 24% in 2013), selfishness and lack of mutual understanding (21% vs 19% in 2013).
As to post-divorce child-rearing issue, it depends on each individual (58% respondents vs 43% in 2015). Another one-fifth of respondents say that children should be raised by mothers. Fifteen percent of respondents are confident that a single parent is not able to raise a child alone.
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 4, 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.
Let us talk about family, marriage and loneliness. In your opinion, which of the below-mentioned is better nowadays? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2017 | 2019 |
To enter into marriage and live in a family | 78 | 77 |
To live in a family but not to register a relationship | 12 | 11 |
To enter into a fictive marriage but to live alone | 1 | 1 |
Not to enter into marriage and to live alone | 5 | 7 |
Don’t know | 4 | 4 |
Let us talk about family, marriage and loneliness. In your opinion, which of the below-mentioned is better nowadays? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | ||||||
| Total respodnents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
To enter into marriage and live in a family | 77 | 62 | 72 | 76 | 77 | 84 |
To live in a family but not to register a relationship | 11 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
To enter into a fictive marriage but to live alone | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Not to enter into marriage and to live alone | 7 | 18 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Don’t know | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 5 |
In your opinion, what is the right age for men to get married? (open-ended question, one answer, answers of those who gave an exact figure (77% in 2017 and 94% in 2019)) | ||
| 2017 | 2019 |
Average age (years old) | 27 | 27 |
In your opinion, what is the right age for women to get married? (open-ended question, one answer, answers of those who gave an exact figure (81% in 2017 and 94% in 2019)) | ||
| 2017 | 2019 |
Average age (years old) | 23 | 24 |
Which of the statements below do you most agree with? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| 1990* | 2007 | 2013 | 2015 | 2019 |
Divorce decision depends on each individual case | 36 | 40 | 48 | 50 | 56 |
Divorce is possible only when the family is almost disintegrated | 39 | 36 | 28 | 27 | 30 |
Divorce is not possible, marriage should be kept by any means | 13 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
Divorce is possible in any case | 5 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
Don’t know | 7 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
* the 1990 survey is based on all –Russian sample of urban and rural populations aged 16 and over; sample size – 1, 200 respondents
Imagine a couple wants to break up. In your opinion, what can make them change their mind and keep their marriage? (closed-ended question, up to 7 answers, % of total respondents) | ||||
| 1990*,** | 2007 ** | 2015 | 2019 |
Nothing can prevent a divorce | 29 | 23 | 28 | 36 |
Problem of child custody after divorce | 25 | 33 | 32 | 34 |
Financial dependence, lack of independence of one of spouses | 7 | 24 | 26 | 25 |
Difficulties to divide property and assets | 10 | 32 | 26 | 19 |
Ethnic and religious customs | 4 | 10 | 18 | 15 |
Spouse’s disagreement to divorce | 8 | 20 | 19 | 10 |
Condemnation of friends, relatives | 5 | 8 | 13 | 10 |
Unpleasant, hard divorce procedure | 10 | 12 | 12 | 8 |
Other | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
Don’t know | 21 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
** In 1990 and 2007 the question was “In your opinion, what is the key barrier to divorce?”
Let us talk about divorce. In your opinion, what is the main reason for divorce? (open-ended question, any number of answers, %) | |||
| 2013 | 2015 | 2019 |
Poverty, unemployment, inability to provide for a family | 21 | 25 | 46 |
Infidelity / jealous spouse | 24 | 14 | 22 |
Failure to compromise / lack of understanding / selfishness | 19 | 13 | 21 |
Different characters, views | 8 | 12 | 15 |
Alcohol abuse, drug addiction of a spouse | 16 | 7 | 12 |
Disagreement over household concerns, routine | 7 | 7 | 8 |
Housing issues, lack of housing | 3 | 6 | 6 |
Unemployment | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Conflicts , disagreement | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Irresponsible attitude towards marriage / lack of attention to values | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Marriage of interest / no love / fictive marriage | 0 | <1 | 4 |
Lack of trust / suspiciousness | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Different purposes, interests | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Life difficulties, lack of stability | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Unequal marriage / early marriage, fast marriage | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Domestic abuse, violence | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Inability to have children | 1 | <1 | 3 |
Inflated expectations, disappointment | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Disrespect towards spouse | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Deception, dishonesty, treason | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Other bad habits | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Not ready for family life | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Recklessness, immorality, lack of moral values | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Intervention of third parties (parents, etc.) | 1 | <1 | 1 |
Social differences between spouses / different social level | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Lack of knowledge in psychology | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Excessive emancipation of women | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Stupidity | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Not ready for child upbringing | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Disease of a spouse | 0 | 0 | <1 |
Laziness | 0 | 0 | <1 |
Feelings | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Circumstances | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Dissatisfaction with sexual life | 1 | <1 | 0 |
No barriers, spouses are to be blamed | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Other | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Don’t know | 17 | 25 | 11 |
In your opinion, who should look after children after divorce - mother or father? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| 1990 * | 2007 | 2015 | 2019 |
Mothers have more skills in raising children tan fathers | 17 | 38 | 38 | 20 |
Fathers have more skills in raising children than mothers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Individually | 43 | 43 | 43 | 58 |
Neither mother nor father can raise a child alone | 33 | 14 | 13 | 15 |
Don’t know | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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.