MOSCOW, 22 August 2023. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring study on Russia’s national symbols devoted to Day of National Flag.

When we hear “Russia” we …

Russia’s image in the mind of the respondents is stable and full of positive connotations. Sixty-eight percent of the Russians pointed out the symbols embodying Russia; a third found it hard to answer the question (32%). As before (except for 2019), most of Russians say that Russia is associated with its national symbols – its coat of arms, flag and anthem (13%). Another group of associations is represented by population, people living in Russia (9%) and their qualities – “love for the country/patriotism” (9%); “unity/cohesion” (4%); “kindness/spirituality” (3%); “pride for the country/people” (3%), etc. The only person to be associated with Russia mentioned by the respondents is Russia’s president Vladimir Putin (5%). The third group of associations encompasses mightiness, Russia’s power (7%) and its attributes – “army/fleet/arms” (3%); “vast land” (3%); “culture/history” (2%, each). Certain respondents also say that Russia is embodied in its rich nature (4%); flora and fauna images were also mentioned – bear (4%) and birth (2%).

Feelings and national symbols

The tree main national symbols - coat of arms, flag and anthem - cause high feelings among the Russians. Most of the respondents feel pride and admiration when they hear the Russian anthem (72%); 68% feel the same when they see the flag (64%, when they see the coat of arms). The percentage of those who express liking towards the national symbols range from 14% to 18%; the share of those who are indifferent is about 9-13%. Negative emotions are expressed by 4% towards the flag, by 3% towards the coat of arms and the anthem (each).

As years go by, more Russians have high feelings towards the three national symbols. Since 2013 the percentage of those who feel pride when they see/hear the national symbols has increased by 15-19%; the share of those who express liking has reduced by 14-18 p.p. In other words, public liking has evolved into admiration and pride. Simultaneously, the number of those who are indifferent has been quite stable since 2013.

All in all, pride and admiration with regards to the three national symbols are what 75% of the Russians feel. They are of mature age (62% of those aged 45-59), with secondary and secondary special education diplomas (61% and 64% respectively), good financial income (65%) and prefer television (63%) or hybrid model of media consumption (64%).

All-Russian telephone survey was conducted 13 August, 2023. A total of 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older 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 13 August, 2023:  cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7946; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0150; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1406. Calculations are based on corporate standard https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/

* 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.

* In 2022, there was “my motherland/my home/my country” answer option.

** In 2019, this answer option was combined with “population, citizens, people” answer option.

*** In 2019 and 2022, this answer option was combined with “motherland” answer option.