May 12, 2021. VCIOM presents the data of a survey about the Russian perceptions of Russia’s resource wealth.
More than half of Russians know that Russia is at the top of the list of countries with the most natural resources (52%). Another 41% say that Russia is in top ten richest countries of the world.
Those who ascribe the leadership to Russia are largely Russians aged 35-44 (58%), as well as respondents aged 45-59 and 60 and over (56% and 52% respectively), Russians aged 25-34 (49%). Young respondents aged 18-24 are less likely to recognize Russia’s leadership in this issue (35%).
Information concerning the Russia’s resource wealth evokes positive emotions in Russians (44%). Twenty-five percent of Russians are indifferent; less than a quarter of Russians say they have negative emotions about that (24%).
The top five exports Russians are proud of are oil (33%), gas (30%), timber (15%), military equipment and weapons (14%), and grains (7%).
Stumbling across information related to the foreign sales of the Russian oil, gas and mineral resources , one-quarter of respondents have positive emotions (23%), and 44% are negative. One-third of Russians are indifferent (30%).
The export of Russia’s agricultural products evokes positive emotions among 43% of Russians. Twenty-eight percent of Russians have negative emotions; a quarter of respondents are indifferent (25%).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 15, 2021. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers 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.
In your opinion, what ranking does Russia have in the list of countries by natural resources? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
It is likely the richest country in the world | 52 | 35 | 49 | 58 | 56 | 52 |
It is one of top ten richest countries | 41 | 58 | 44 | 39 | 36 | 38 |
It is likely to be lagging behind the richest countries | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Don’t know | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
When you stumble across information concerning Russia’s resource wealth, what do you feel? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Likely positive emotions | 44 | 35 | 37 | 44 | 44 | 54 |
Likely negative emotions | 24 | 14 | 26 | 30 | 25 | 23 |
Indifference, no feelings | 25 | 47 | 32 | 24 | 23 | 17 |
Don’t know | 7 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 6 |
As many other countries, Russia is involved in global economy by selling domestic goods and services in overseas markets and buying foreign goods and services. In your opinion, what exports can Russians be proud of? Up to five answers (open-ended question, up to 5 answers; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Crude oil / crude products / POL | 33 | 24 | 31 | 31 | 29 | 43 |
Gas | 30 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 39 |
Timber / wood | 15 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Military industry, equipment / weapons / defense | 14 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
Grains / cereals | 7 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 13 |
Space / rocket engines / rocket and missile engineering | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 6 |
Metals / metallurgy / ore | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Wheat /flour | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
Gold | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Agricultural products | 4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Vaccines / COVID-19 vaccine | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Foods / food products | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
Charcoal | 3 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Nothing / nothing to be proud of | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
IT / information technology / software | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Diamonds / cut diamonds | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Nuclear industry / technology / nuclear-power engineering | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Natural resources | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Machine building / machinery | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Sea foods / fish | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Technologies / developments | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Other | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Don’t know | 32 | 52 | 39 | 30 | 28 | 25 |
Russia sells oil, gas and other mineral resources abroad. When you stumble across that kind of information, what do you feel? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Likely positive emotions | 23 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 37 |
Likely negative emotions | 44 | 35 | 47 | 46 | 49 | 37 |
Indifference, no feelings | 29 | 45 | 36 | 34 | 25 | 20 |
Don’t know | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Russia sells oil, gas and other mineral resources abroad. When you stumble across that kind of information, what do you feel? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents ) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Likely positive emotions | 43 | 26 | 30 | 41 | 47 | 54 |
Likely negative emotions | 28 | 18 | 32 | 31 | 29 | 26 |
Indifference, no feelings | 25 | 55 | 35 | 23 | 19 | 16 |
Don’t know | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 |