Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, 27 February 2023. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey on the future that the Russians see for themselves and their children – in Russia or abroad - today compared to thirty years ago.

You are needed where you were born

Pondering over the future of their children and grandchildren, Russians opt for Russia as a country where their children and grandchildren will study and work: 71% do not want their children/grandchildren to get education abroad; 70% are against international employment; these opinions are more common than thirty years ago (+51 p.p. and +35 p.p., respectively). It seems like in 2023 global political, economic and financial crises make Russians make their choices in favor of their own country.

The older the respondents, the more often they are against foreign education (31% of the 18-24-year-olds; 58% of the 25-34-year-olds; 76% of the 45-59 –year-olds and 86% of those aged 60 + ) and employment abroad (24% of those aged 18-24; 56% of the 25-34-year-olds; 76% of those aged 45-59 and 87% of those aged 60 +).

 

  • Those who do not want their children/grandchildren to get a degree abroad are often Russians with secondary special education (vocational school) (80%), respondents who live in rural area (85%), active TV viewers (89%) and active consumers of television and the Internet   (79%).
  • The same groups of respondents often do not want their children/grandchildren to work abroad: respondents with special secondary education (vocational school) (76%), rural area residents (84%), active TV viewers (88%) and active consumers of both television and the Internet (78%)  

Only one-fifth of Russians want their children/grandchildren to study and find a job abroad (20%, each). Compared to 1993, their appreciation of foreign education has decreased by 33 p.p., and that of international employment, by 22 p.p.  

Those who are interested in foreign studies are mainly young Russians (51% of those aged 18-24 and 31% of those aged 25-34); the same is true regarding foreign jobs (54% of the 18-24–year-olds and 30% of those aged 25-34). Obviously, young respondents think that studying and working abroad are prestigious and trendy.

  • Those who would like their children/grandchildren to study abroad are often Russians with bad or very bad financial situation (29%), those who live in Moscow and St Petersburg (28%) and million-plus cities (30%), and active Internet users (37%).
  • Those who would like their children/grandchildren to work abroad are often Russians with bad or very bad financial situation (30%), those who live in million-plus cities (33%), and active Internet users (35%)

On emigration

Russians view their country as an attractive place to live, both for their children/grandchildren and for themselves.  Over the recent thirty years, the share of those who do not want their children/grandchildren to move abroad for studies or for job has increased by 16 p.p., up to 83%.  Compared to 1993, the percentage of those who would not like to move from Russia themselves has increased by 18 p.p. (90%).

The older the respondents, the more often they are against emigration: both for their children/grandchildren (87% of the 45-59–year-olds and 95% of those aged 60 + vs. 60% of the 18-24-year-olds; 67% of the 25-34–year-olds), and for themselves (97% of those aged 60+ vs. 76% of the 18-24-year-olds; 79% of those aged 25-34). Apparently, as people grow older they have a better idea of the advantages and disadvantages of living in any country, and to live in Europe does not necessarily mean to live better than in Russia. Moreover, with age people tend to have a stronger desire to be near family, and their interest in changing the place of living is fading away.

 

  • Those who would like their children/grandchildren to live in Russia are basically respondents with secondary special education (vocational school) (89%), those who live in rural area (89%), active TV viewers and active Internet and television consumers (96% and 90% respectively).
  • Those who are unwilling to move permanently abroad are mostly Russians with good or very good financial situation (93%), rural area residents (95%), active TV viewers and active Internet and television consumers (98% and 94% respectively).

One in ten respondents are in support of emigration (11% for their children/grandchildren; 8% for themselves). Compared to 1993, in 2023 both desires are less common (- 5 p.p. and - 7 p.p. respectively).

The younger the Russians are, the higher the number of those who favor the emigration of their children /grandchildren (30% of the 18-24–year-olds and 19% of the 25-34–year-olds vs. 3% of those aged 60+), and the number of those who would like to move permanently themselves (18% of the 18-24-year-olds and 15% of those aged 25-34 vs. 3% of those aged 60+). Young people still seem to be driven by their desire of new discoveries, new emotions and impressions.

  • Those who want their children /grandchildren to move permanently abroad are mainly those respondents who have very bad or bad financial situation (22%), those with incomplete higher and higher education degrees (14%), residents of Moscow and St Petersburg and million-plus cities (16% and 19% respectively), and  active Internet users (22%).  
  • Those who consider emigration for themselves are often Russians who have very bad or bad financial situation (20%), who live in million-plus cities (14%), and who actively consume the Internet (15%). 

 

 

VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted 21 January, 2023. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-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.

Key effectiveness indicators, survey of January 21, 2023:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.8287; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0187; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1079. Calculations are based on the corporate standard:

* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.

** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.

** RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.

 

Would you like your children and grandchildren to get education abroad, or not?

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

 

1993

2023

Yes

53

20

No

20

71

Don’t know/undecided

27

9

Would you like your children and grandchildren to get education abroad, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Men

Women

Ages 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes

20

20

20

51

31

18

17

9

No

71

71

72

31

58

73

76

86

Don’t know/undecided

9

9

8

18

11

9

7

5

Would you like your children and grandchildren to get education abroad, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100—500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand inhabitants

Rural area

Yes

20

28

30

15

21

21

11

No

71

57

59

73

69

74

85

Don’t know/undecided

9

15

11

12

10

5

4

Would you like your children and grandchildren to get a job abroad, or not?

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

 

1993

2023

Yes

42

20

No

35

70

Don’t know/undecided

23

10

Would you like your children and grandchildren to get a job abroad, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Men

Women

Ages 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes

20

23

18

54

30

17

17

8

No

70

66

74

24

56

72

76

87

Don’t know/undecided

10

11

8

22

14

11

7

5

Would you like your children and grandchildren to get a job abroad, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100—500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand inhabitants

Rural area

Yes

20

23

33

18

21

21

11

No

70

62

55

70

68

72

84

Don’t know/undecided

10

15

12

12

11

7

5

Would you like your children and grandchildren to move permanently abroad, or not?

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

 

1993

2023

Yes

16

11

No

67

83

Don’t know/undecided

17

6

Would you like your children and grandchildren to move permanently abroad, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Men

Women

Ages 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes

11

11

11

30

19

12

8

3

No

83

81

84

60

67

82

87

95

Don’t know/undecided

6

8

5

10

14

6

5

2

Would you like your children and grandchildren to move permanently abroad, or not?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100—500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand inhabitants

Rural area

Yes

11

16

19

10

10

10

5

No

83

73

74

81

83

86

89

Don’t know/undecided

6

11

7

9

7

4

6

Would you personally like to move permanently abroad?

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

 

1993

2023

Yes

15

8

No

72

90

Don’t know/undecided

14

2

Would you personally like to move permanently abroad?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Men

Women

Ages 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes

8

9

7

18

15

9

6

3

No

90

88

91

76

79

90

92

97

Don’t know/undecided

2

3

2

6

6

1

2

0

Would you personally like to move permanently abroad?

(closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents, 2023)

 

Total

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100—500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand inhabitants

Rural area

Yes

8

11

14

8

9

7

4

No

90

83

82

91

88

92

95

Don’t know/undecided

2

6

4

1

3

1

1