This survey took place between 21-24 April 2017 and was conducted throughout all of Russia in both urban and rural settings. The survey was carried out among 1600 people over the age of 18 in 137 localities of 48 of the country’s regions. The survey was conducted as a personal interview in respondents’ homes. The answer distribution is presented as percentages of the number of participants along with data from previous surveys.
The statistical error of these studies for a selection of 1600 people (with a probability of 0.95) does not exceed:
3.4% for indicators around 50%
2.9% for indicators around 25%/75%
2.0% for indicators around 10%/90%
1.5% for indicators around 5%/95%
ARE YOU PROUD OF RUSSIA TODAY?
| Mar. 06 | Oct. 07 | Oct. 08 | Apr. 10 | Oct. 13 | Oct. 14 | Apr. 15 | Oct. 15 | May 16 | Apr. 17 | |
| Definitely | 19 | 27 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 22 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 25 |
| Probably | 29 | 33 | 40 | 37 | 40 | 47 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 42 |
| Probably not | 32 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 30 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 20 |
| Definitely not | 16 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| It is difficult to say | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
HOW PROUD ARE YOU OF BEING A CITIZEN OF RUSSIA?
| Aug. 94 | Mar. 98 | Apr. 00 |
Jun. 03 |
Jan. 05 | Apr. 07 | Mar. 08 | Jul. 08 | Jun. 09 | Jul. 10 | Sept. 12 | Apr. 17 | |
| Very proud | 20 | 26 | 32 | 34 | 31 | 33 | 35 | 47 | 26 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Somewhat proud | 40 | 38 | 47 | 37 | 41 | 38 | 43 | 37 | 48 | 46 | 44 | 41 |
| Not too proud | 18 | 19 | 15 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 17 |
| Not at all proud | 10 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| No answer | 12 | 6 | 1 | <1 | <1 | 3 | 4 | <1 | 5 | <1 | 1 | 6 |
WHAT ABOUT RUSSIA GIVES YOU THE GREATEST SENSE OF PRIDE? (respondents were given a card with answers; multiple answers; ranked by April 2017 responses)
| Oct. 14 | Mar. 15 | Oct. 15 | May 16 | Apr. 17 | |
| Russia’s natural wealth | 40 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 40 |
| Russian history | 39 | 43 | 38 | 44 | 40 |
| Armed forces | 24 | 24 | 35 | 36 | 37 |
| The country’s size | 28 | 31 | 26 | 31 | 29 |
| Russian culture | 30 | 34 | 30 | 34 | 29 |
| Athletic achievements | 33 | 32 | 29 | 21 | 24 |
| Russia’s position in the international arena | 26 | 24 | 30 | 22 | 23 |
| The achievements of modern Russian science | 16 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 14 |
| Fellow countrymen | 8 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 11 |
| The Russian education system | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Economic successes | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Healthcare system | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| None of the above | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| It is difficult to say | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
A significant increase in the share of respondents who take pride in modern Russia can be seen in the “post-Crimean” period (2014-2015), during which it surpassed the number of respondents who do not feel pride by nearly four, whereas a year earlier they had been approximately equal. Now, despite a slight decrease, pride level maintains its overall high post-Crimea values. Analogous trends can be observed regarding pride in self-identifying as a citizen of Russia.
Data on pride have remained unchanged in the past year — first and foremost are Russia’s natural wealth, history, and armed forces. It is telling that in 2014 and spring 2015, the army was not among the top 3 sources of pride, coming in after athletic achievements, culture, and size of the country. Following the start of the Syrian campaign, however, pride in Russia at some point began to be associated with pride in the Russian armed forces, a situation which largely continues today.
National pride is measured in terms of various indicators; worth mentioning is that one of the main components of this pride – not detailed in this study and subsumed by the general category of “Russian history” – is pride relate.
Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).
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