Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Assessing the outgoing year, more respondents have expressed positive evaluations for the second year in a row. Russians have greater hopes for 2018 than they did a year ago.

MOSCOW, December 21, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to what Russians remember the outgoing year for and what they expect in 2018, how they plan to celebrate the New Year’s Eve, what they are going to give and how much money they are going to spend on celebrations.

2017 events

The military operations in Syria have been trending for the third consecutive year (38% in 2017). The Crimea Bridge is at the top of the national event ranking (6%). The major scandals are the IOC’s decision to suspend the Russian team from the 2018 Olympics (12%) and the Ulyukayev’s trial (11%).

The Russian media analysis carried out by the Medialogia Company shows that the top three visible world events also include the Syrian war (22,056.29). Top national events involve the St Petersburg metro attack (17,347.37) and Unified Election Day (16,258.12). The major scandal refers to the doping allegations and the participation of the Russian team at the PyeongChang Olympics (20,512.04).

2017 rankings

Vladimir Putin remains politician of the year (58%). He is followed, in a landslide, by Sergey Lavrov (18%), Vladimir Zhirinovsky (13%), Sergey Shoygu (10%), and Dmitry Medvedev (9%), etc.

As to showbiz, TV and cinema stars, Russians still have no icons they strongly admire (even previous favorites do not get many likes). The athlete rating is headed by biathlete Anton Shipulin (4%), hockey player Alexander Ovechkin (4%), figure skater Evgeniya Medvedeva (4%).

Sergey Bezrukov has been the most popular actor for several years (5%); this year he is sharing his ranking with Konstantin Khabensky (5%). Dmirty Khvorostovsky is the most popular musician of the year (14%). High-profile writers are hard to identify; all substantive replies do not gain more than 2%: Daria Dontsova (2%), Boris Akunin (2%), Zakhar Prilepin (2%); the remainder gained 1% or even less. 

“Pust Govoryat” talk show is recognized to be the most popular TV show this year (13%). Top three television drama series include “Mentovskie tayny” (5%), “Tayny sledstviya” (4%), and “Sled” TV series (4%). The best movies of 2017 are “Salyut 7” (4%), “Posledniy bogatyr” (4%), and “Legenda o Kolovrate” (4%).

Emotions and assessments of 2017, expectations for 2018

Russians are bidding farewell to2017 in the same mood as they were bidding 2016: the corresponding index* is still 63 p.p. (an all-time high). On New Year’s Eve 49% of Russians feel joy and expect changes for the better; 32% are calm and confident (an increase from 25% in 2016). Fewer Russians feel sad (from 14% to 4%).

Summing up the outcomes of the outgoing year, respondents say that 2017 has been positive personally for them and their families compared to the previous year: the index of personal outcomes** is 14 p.p. in 2017 (5 p.p. in 2016). Fifty-five percent say that the year has been “good” or “successful”; 41% report certain difficulties 2017 brought to them. National-scale assessment dynamic looks much more positive: the corresponding index ** has been increasing from -53 p.p. in 2015 to -12 p.p. in 2017 for the second consecutive year. However the balance of assessments is negative: 40% provide positive evaluations, whereas 52% report negative outcomes.

Russians have high hopes for 2018, and much more respondents expect changes for the better than they did a year ago: the index of personal expectations*** for the upcoming year gained 27 p.p. from 2015 to 2017  (from 37 to 64 p.p.). Having reached 43 p.p. in 2016, public expectations on a national scale returned to the previous level (42 p.p. in 2017). More than one-quarter of respondents (27%) consider the upcoming year will be successful for them personally, 21% - for the country in general.  

New Year celebration plans, spending and gifts

Home is still the most popular place to spend the New Year’s Eve (78%). Every tenth Russians (8%) is going to visit friends, 3% is going to dacha. Only 4% of respondents are not going to celebrate the New Year’s Eve at all.

Ninety-six percent of Russians plan to spend money on New Year’s Eve. This year the amount of spending has increased by 15%, and the average New Year budget makes up 14,299 rub. (vs.12,397 rub. last year). According to 86% of respondents, an average of 5,301 rub. will be spent on gifts (4,338 rub. in 2016); 90% expect to spend an average of 4,596 rub. on New Year’s Eve table; 51% will spend an average of 4,402 rub. on cinema, theaters, restaurants, and New Year's parties for kids.

In terms of gifts, desires coincide with possibilities this year; most of respondents will give souvenirs (31%), and souvenirs are the most desired gifts as well (14%). Money is absent from the top five most desired things. Respondents are also going to give toys (23% vs. 1%), confectionary, spirits (22%; 7% want to get them), perfumery, and cosmetics (21% and 12%, respectively). Thirteen percent of respondents are not going to give any gifts; 27% will refuse to receive any gifts.

Detailed results are available

<link wciom.ru/fileadmin/file/reports_conferences/2016/2016-12-26-itogi%20goda.pdf&gt;

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* Index describes an overall Russian perception of the outgoing year and hopes for the upcoming year. The Index is based on the question: “What feelings do you have bidding a farewell to the outgoing year and welcoming the upcoming year?” The answer “good feeling, a sense of optimism” corresponds to the coefficient “0.9”; the answer “I feel neither emotional upheaval nor negative emotion”– “0.5”; “Rather bad mood, pessimistic expectations” – “0.1”. The Index is measured in points and can vary between 10 and 90. The higher the value of index is, the more optimistic Russians are about the upcoming year.

** Indices of personal outcomes and general country’s outcomes are based on the questions “What was the outgoing year like for you personally and your family?” and “What was the outgoing year for Russia in general?” The Index is calculated as the difference of positive and negative assessments. The value of Index may vary between -100 and 100 points. The higher the value of Index is, the more positive respondents are about the outgoing year.

*** Indices of Personal Expectations and Index of National Expectations are based on the questions “What do you and your family expect for the upcoming year?” and “What should Russia expect for the upcoming year?” The Index is calculated as the difference of positive and negative assessments. The value may vary between -100 and 100 points. The higher the value of Index is, the more positive respondents are about the future. 

The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted in December, 2017. The survey involved 1,800 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. 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 in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The 2003-2016 results are based on household surveys.

The monitoring and analysis of the Russian media was carried out by the Medialogia Company using the Medialogia database involving 43,100 sources and online media. The period of study was from January through December 2017. The rankings are based on the Medialogia event visibility metric defined as the sum of the visibility of event on certain topic in the most popular media.

Can you name three most important world events happened in 2017? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, shown are informative answers mentioned by at least 2% of respondents)

Total respondents

Syrian war (Russian assistance to Syria / Syrian war ending / ISIL destroyed  / Syria liberated 

38

Doping scandal / non-admission of the Russian team at the Olympics

7

US presidential elections / Trump’s victory / Obama’s leave

5

Situation in Ukraine (war / upheavals in Kyev)

4

Crimea bridge construction

3

Putin nominated as a candidate for presidential elections

2

North Korean missiles / Korean crisis

2 


Can you name three most important events happened in Russia in 2017? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, shown are informative answers mentioned by at least 2% of respondents)

Total respondents

Crimea bridge construction

6

Putin will run for president

3

Putin’s initiatives in social and demographic sphere: to extend maternity capital, to increase  child allowances

3

Non-admission of the Russian team at the Olympics / doping scandal

3

Development of the army / strengthening of the military capabilities

2


 

Event visibility

Three major world events in Russian media

Military operation in Syria

22,056.29

Presidential elections in France

18,192.45

Catalonia Independence referendum

9,306.58

Three major Russian events in Russian media 

St Petersburg metro attack

17,347.37

Unified Election Day in Russia

16,258.12

Trial over Alexey Ulyukayev. The former minister is sentenced to 8 years of strict regime for taking a $2 million bribe from Igor Sechin

12,806.42

What feeling do you have bidding 2017 farewell and welcoming 2018? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Good feeling, a sense of optimism

33

40

29

34

33

34

34

35

41

41

45

48

I feel neither emotional upheaval nor negative emotions 

49

44

46

49

51

50

54

51

45

43

42

38

Rather bad mood, pessimistic expectations

16

8

20

11

12

10

10

9

10

14

12

11

Don’t know

2

8

5

6

4

6

2

5

4

2

1

3

Index*

56

59

51

56

56

57

59

58

60

60

63

63

What feelings do you have on New Year’s eve? (closed-ended question, not more than three answers, %)

 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Joy, expectations of changes for the better

35

35

42

43

50

49

Calmness and confidence

23

27

23

24

25

32

Sorrow

15

12

21

14

7

10

Tiredness, devastation

16

18

13

17

12

8

Sadness

9

9

11

9

14

4

Disappointment

8

6

6

7

5

3

Other

1

1

2

3

2

1

I do not feel anything

17

16

13

9

9

18

Don’t know

1

1

3

1

1

2

What was the outgoing year like for you personally and your family? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

03  

04  

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

Very good

6

4

6

9

7

4

4

4

4

5

6

5

7

8

7

Basically good

49

39

45

50

55

49

38

42

53

50

46

54

45

44

48

Rather difficult 

37

43

39

33

30

35

45

44

35

39

41

33

34

34

29

Very bad, difficult 

7

13

9

6

5

9

11

7

5

5

6

6

13

13

12

Don’t know

1

1

1

2

3

3

2

3

3

1

1

2

1

1

4

Index **

11

-13

3

20

27

9

-14

-5

17

11

5

20

5

5

14

What was the outgoing year like for your country? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

03  

04  

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

Very good

5

1

4

6

7

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

3

5

5

Basically good

40

26

42

47

57

37

18

23

38

36

36

33

19

30

35

Rather difficult 

46

53

44

37

25

47

61

55

47

51

50

52

57

44

41

Very bad, difficult 

4

12

5

3

2

7

14

12

5

5

5

9

18

15

11

Don’t know

5

8

5

7

9

7

5

8

8

6

6

3

3

6

8

Index **

-5

-38

-3

13

37

-15

-55

-42

-12

-18

-16

-25

-53

-24

-12

What do you and your family expect for the upcoming year? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

03  

04  

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

I think the upcoming year will be rather good

27

10

12

19

21

12

14

11

11

8

13

11

23

27

27

I think that the upcoming year will be generally good 

47

45

52

51

54

37

47

51

54

51

52

54

43

48

53

It will be rather difficult 

20

34

27

21

15

39

27

24

23

30

28

26

26

18

15

I think it will be very bad

1

5

3

1

1

4

3

2

3

3

2

3

3

3

1

Don’t know

5

6

6

8

9

8

9

12

9

8

5

6

5

4

4

Index ***

53

16

34

48

59

6

31

36

39

26

35

36

37

54

64

What should Russia expect for the upcoming year? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

03  

04  

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

I think the upcoming year will be rather good

13

6

9

14

18

8

8

8

8

8

8

9

18

24

21

I think that the upcoming year will be generally good 

48

37

49

53

52

30

42

43

46

51

48

44

37

44

48

It will be rather difficult 

29

41

30

22

17

48

35

29

31

30

33

35

34

21

25

I think it will be very bad

1

4

3

1

1

6

3

4

3

3

3

5

6

4

2

Don’t know

9

12

9

10

12

8

12

16

12

8

8

7

5

7

4

Index ***

31

-2

25

44

52

-16

12

18

20

26

20

13

15

43

42


How are you going to celebrate the New Year’s Eve? (closed-ended question, one answer, %)

 

03  

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

At home

74

73

77

76

77

75

76

72

73

76

74

77

76

78

Visiting friends

15

15

13

14

13

12

14

16

16

16

14

11

11

8

At dacha  (my own, my friends’, my relatives’ dacha)

1

1

1

1

2

1

2

2

2

1

2

2

4

3

At a restaurant (club, dance party)

2

3

2

2

2

2

2

3

2

2

3

2

2

1

In the countryside, at a holiday centre, health resort

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

1

1

1

1

Abroad

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

I will not celebrate the New Year’s eve

2

2

2

2

2

4

2

2

3

1

3

3

3

4

Don’t know

5

5

4

4

3

5

3

4

3

4

3

3

2

5

And how much money are you going to spend for the New Year celebration … (closed-ended question, one answer per each option based on the answers of those who plan spending)

Average spending, rub. 

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

Gifts to relatives

1105

1409

1764

1824

2058

2200

2497

2666

2853

3142

4198

4338

5301

New Year table

1155

1437

1762

1879

2116

2142

2417

2593

2824

3103

4069

4164

4596

Other spending (Christmas tree, travel packages, theatres, restaurants, et cet.)

902

1169

1431

1502

1654

1826

2040

2169

2437

2383

3617

3895

4402

Total (total expenditures)

3163

4015

4957

5206

5828

6168

6953

7428

8114

8628

11884

12397

14299

An increase compared to the previous year, % 

 

05  

06  

07  

08  

09  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

Gifts to relatives

 

27

25

3

12

6

14

7

7

10

34

3

22

New Year table

 

24

22

6

12

1

13

7

9

10

31

2

10

Other spending (Christmas tree, travel packages, theatres, restaurants, et cet.)

 

29

22

4

10

10

12

6

12

-2

52

8

13

Total (total expenditures)

 

26

23

4

11

5

13

7

9

6

38

4

15

What are you GOING TO GIVE to your friends and relatives?

(closed-ended question, not more than four answers, %)

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Souvenirs (pens, notepads, purse, et cet.)

33

36

38

37

30

31

31

35

42

35

28

30

31

Toys

23

29

29

28

23

26

25

24

23

23

22

24

23

Candies, spirits, specialties

26

30

29

30

24

28

29

29

28

28

24

26

22

Perfumery, cosmetics, bijouterie

21

23

22

21

20

24

23

23

25

21

15

19

21

Money

4

6

7

6

8

7

10

11

9

8

10

13

9

Household appliances (tea-kettle, iron, coffee maker)

4

6

5

5

4

8

7

6

8

5

6

7

9

Clothes, shoes

7

8

9

9

6

8

9

10

7

7

6

9

8

Mobile phones

3

5

4

3

5

5

5

6

7

5

4

4

7

Flowers

8

9

9

7

7

6

6

7

7

7

3

7

6

Jewellery

4

4

6

5

7

8

7

7

8

6

4

5

6

Tickets to concert, theatre, a restaurant dinner

2

2

1

2

2

2

2

3

3

3

3

4

4

Camera, video camera, TV set, sound system)

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

1

2

2

1

CD, DVD

7

9

8

5

6

6

4

2

7

2

1

1

1

Computer

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

Tour package

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

1

1

Car

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Other

5

4

8

7

4

4

3

4

2

4

5

5

8

I will not give anyone anything

15

12

14

16

15

14

10

13

12

11

16

14

13

Don’t know

12

9

9

9

15

11

16

7

9

12

11

8

5

What would you like to have as a gift from your friends and relatives? 

(closed-ended question, not more than four answers, %)

 

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Souvenirs (pens, notepads, purse, et cet.)

7

8

9

7

14

13

7

8

14

Perfumery, cosmetics, bijouterie

9

11

10

10

8

10

5

9

12

Tour package

6

7

8

10

9

6

6

6

9

Tickets to concert, theatre, a restaurant dinner

3

3

4

5

3

5

4

6

9

Candies, spirits, specialties

4

5

9

7

7

10

5

6

7

Money

10

10

15

17

17

11

11

15

6

Jewellery

9

10

8

9

8

8

6

7

6

Household appliances (tea-kettle, iron, coffee maker)

4

6

5

6

5

4

4

5

6

Mobile phone

7

7

6

5

7

5

5

7

5

Flowers

4

4

4

5

4

3

3

4

5

Car

7

6

7

9

7

4

7

9

4

Computer

3

4

2

4

4

3

2

3

3

Camera, video camera, TV set, sound system)

4

5

7

6

6

4

2

3

2

Clothes, shoes

5

6

4

5

5

4

2

3

2

Toys

1

2

2

1

2

2

1

1

1

CD, DVD

3

2

1

2

4

1

0

1

0

I do not want to have anything as a gift

17

16

14

17

18

17

23

19

27

Other

5

5

4

5

4

7

13

13

11

Don’t know

25

21

23

15

14

18

12

13

8

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