This survey took place between August 23–30, 2018 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 136 localities of 52 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.

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%

• Young Russians aged 18-35 feel happier more often than older respondents.
• The overall level of happiness among Russians who are married or in serious relationships is identical to the level of happiness among single respondents (73% and 73% respectively). On the contrary, widowed or divorced respondents feel unhappy nearly twice as often.
• The higher one’s purchasing power, i.e. having the means to purchase goods and services without limitations, the higher his or her level of happiness. Among respondents with “higher than average” purchasing power, the ratio of “happy people” to “unhappy people” is 6:1, while for low-income individuals who have barely enough money to buy food, the ratio is 1:1.
• Life itself and a favorite profession make single Russians happier more often than those with families.
• A boring job or low pay are the main reasons preventing many people from being happy. One in four respondents over the age of 55 is prevented from being happy by poor health and the death of loved ones. At the same time, young people indicate “dissatisfaction with the state of the country” as the reason for their unhappiness more often than other age groups.

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE A HAPPY PERSON? (one answer)

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY? (as a percentage of those surveyed who feel that they are happy; respondents chose a reason THEMSELVES, and interviewers recorded the answer(s) in their forms)

WHAT PREVENTS YOU FROM BEING HAPPY? (as a percentage of those surveyed who DON’T feel that they are happy; respondents chose a reason THEMSELVES, and the interviewers recorded the answer(s) in their forms)

Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).

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