A public opinion survey from October 2019 revealed that 21% of Russians would like to move abroad to live there permanently. In total, the index of emigration moods jumped by 6 points from May this year.

1 in 5 Russians wants out

The previous peak of emigration moods was in 2013, when 22% of Russian respondents expressed the desire to leave the country to start a new life elsewhere, Levada reported.

The lowest point of migration sentiment was recorded in 2017 when it was around 14-15%.

Among young people aged 18-24, the emigration sentiment keeps increasing since 2014. In 2019 over half of respondents from this group (53%) expressed the wish to get out of Russia and start anew somewhere abroad.

Even the people of middle age show a higher unsettlement and wish to move countries.

However, the wishes don’t mean the action. Only 7% of respondents are doing something to move abroad, the rest of the people are just wishing to get out.

1. Over one half of those who wish to get out think that country’s trajectory went into a wrong direction, as compared to 36% among those who don’t want to immigrate to another country.
2. Feeling lost became more prevalent (17% among those who wants out vs. 10% among the ones not wanting to move).
3. 18% of those who want to move feel ashamed for the things happening in the country (vs. 11% among people who wouldn’t wish to emigrate).
4. People who are politically active tend to wish to move out more often (39% vs. 23%). The potential emigrants also are more positive about taking part in political protests (33% vs. 17%).

Why do Russians wish to emigrate?

The desire to provide a better future for the kids is the most important driver for the people wishing to get out of Russia: 45% named it as the reason for wanting to move abroad.

Among other reasons:

• The economic situation in Russia: 40%
• Better quality medical help abroad: 35%
• Political situation in Russia: 33%
• More career growth opportunities abroad: 28%
• Higher quality of education abroad: 26%
• Interest to the other culture: 18%
• More business opportunities: 16%
• Better security in terms of legal protection and social system: 12%

Even the people whose financial situation is better than average are thinking about moving abroad from Russia.

People who have a university degree more often express the desire to leave Russia: 26% as compared to 21% on average.

As compare to the last year survey, the same share of respondents indicated that they have friends or family who left the country in the last 2-3 year: 20%. It is a pretty high number if you think about it.

The survey by Levada didn’t provide statistics by gender in regard to immigration moods among Russians. So, we don’t know whether Russian women express a higher or lower desire to emigrate in general.

But you can assume that an educated young Russian lady would be positive about an opportunity to live abroad in a good country, especially if she is open to a romance with a foreign man!

Read also:

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