Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Russians do not believe that Earth is flat and aliens exist, but they really doubt that Americans landed on Moon.

MOSCOW, JULY 29, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to common myths and conspiracy theories and what Russians think about them.

Russians are absolutely confident that the Earth is round and there is evidence of that (94%). In 2018, the same percentage of Russians thought so (93%). 

Every second Russians is confident that aliens do not exist (48%). The share of those who believe that extraterrestrials come to the Earth has declined by 9 p.p. over two years: from 45% to 36%. Of those who do, 23% say that extraterrestrials hide from us (27% in 2018). Every tenth (13%) considers that the government does not reveal the truth about the extraterrestrial intelligence (a 5-point decrease since 2018).

Almost three-quarters of respondents view vaccines as an effective way of preventing diseases (72%). Those who are more likely to share this opinion are Russians who have incomplete or complete higher education diplomas (78%). Every fifth respondent thinks vaccines are useless or even harmful to health (21%).

Three-quarters of respondents consider that HIV is a dangerous disease which poses risks to life (78%). This opinion is basically typical of young Russians aged 18-24 (88%), 25–34 (86%) and 35-44 (82%).

Half of Russians believe that the 1969 Moon landing was faked by the American government (49%). Over the recent two years the share of those who deny that this event took place has decreased by 8 p.p. Just a third of respondents consider this fact to be true (31%); more than half of them (57%) are younger respondents aged 18-24.

According to 66% of Russians GM foods are dangerous to health. Most of those who think so are Russians aged 45-59 (77%). Every firth considers that GMOs are not harmful (20%): they are mainly young respondents (41% of the18-24-year-olds).

Over half of Russians (60%) think that there is a group of people who aim to revise the Russian history and to belittle the Russia’s grandeur. This opinion is often shared by older Russians 60+ (74%). Half of respondents (54%) also think that there is a group of people who strive to destroy Russia’s traditional values. This stance is supported by 28% of Russians aged 18-24 (28%) and more than half of older Russians – 61% of those aged 45–59 and 64% of those aged 60.

Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on July 6, 2020. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone number was used. 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 to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

 

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with.

(closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018

2020

Elementary (incomplete secondary) education

Secondary education (school, vocational school)

Specialized secondary education  (technical school)

Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institution), higher  education

Overwhelming evidence suggests that the Earth is a sphere

93

94

82

90

94

97

Scientists deliberately mislead everyone by stating that the Earth is a sphere. Actually, the Earth is flat.

3

2

5

3

4

1

Don’t know

4

4

13

7

2

2

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with. (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

2018

2020

Extraterrestrial beings come to the Earth but the government hides the information from us

18

13

Extraterrestrial beings come to the Earth but they are hiding from us 

27

23

Extraterrestrial beings do not visit the Earth, or they do not exist

42

48

Don’t know

13

16

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with. (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018

2020

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

American astronauts landed on Moon in the 20th century.

24

31

57

37

30

27

23

There was no moon landing. The moon landing was faked by the American government in 1969.

57

49

29

44

48

56

55

Don’t know

19

20

14

19

22

17

22

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with. (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018

2020

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) does not exist; it was deliberately engineered.

5

4

1

1

4

4

6

HIV is a common virus that many people have. It does not have any impact on health and does not require any specific treatment.

8

8

9

7

4

12

8

HIV is a dangerous virus which can evolve and seriously damage health. It cannot be completely “cured”, and special medicines are needed on a constant basis.

78

78

88

86

82

77

68

Don’t know

9

10

1

6

10

8

18

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018  

2020

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

GM foods (foods containing GMOs) are extremely harmful to human health. However the truth is hidden from people.

79

66

49

57

62

77

70

GM foods (foods containing GMOs) are not harmful to people.

12

20

41

31

20

12

12

Don’t know

9

14

10

12

18

12

17

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with.

 

 (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018

2020

Elementary (incomplete secondary) education

Secondary education (school, vocational school)

Specialized secondary education  (technical school)

Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institution), higher  education

Vaccines are an effective way to prevent diseases or infections. They do more good than harm.  

72

72

54

64

71

78

Vaccines are useless. They do neither good nor harm.

14

12

15

15

11

10

Vaccines are dangerous. They do more harm than good

9

9

15

8

12

6

Don’t know

5

8

16

13

6

6

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with.

 (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018  

2020

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

There is a group of people who aim to revise Russia’s history, to falsify historical facts and to belittle Russia’s  grandeur

66

60

40

46

56

66

74

There is not any group of people who aim to revise Russia’s history.  If certain historians revise certain events in the Russian history it means that they search for truth.

26

28

52

41

27

24

17

Don’t know

8

12

8

13

18

10

10

Now I will read statements. Please choose the statement you most agree with.

 (closed-ended question, one answer)

 

2018

2020

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

There is a group of people who aim to destroy Russian traditional values through the propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships.

63

54

28

41

56

61

64

There is no propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships in Russia. People advocating for the rights of sexual minorities in Russia do not pursue destructive goals.

24

30

63

42

25

26

19

Don’t know

13

16

9

17

18

13

17

 

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.

Read the article in Russian