According to OECD Better Life Index, Russian women are less satisfied with their lives as compared to average scores by participating countries. Russian citizens estimated their level of satisfaction as 6.0, with the general score being 6.6 (7.3 in Australia and New Zealand, 7.2 in USA, 6.8 in UK).
Jobs
65% of Russian women have paid jobs, and their life expectancy is 76 years. Compare it with males, 74% of whom are employed, and expected to live up to 65 years.
Education
Although Russians still believe that they are one of the best educated nations on Earth, their teenage literacy and numeracy scores were lower than typical: only 481 (world: 497). Young Russian females did better than males on this test, outperforming boys by 16 points (world gap: 8 points). However, despite lower literacy in kids, the average educational level for grownups is significantly higher than among other countries, with 94% of people over 25 having upper secondary education (standard: 75%). According to internal government statistics, Russian women are known to have higher educational level on average than their male counterparts.
Community
Russians confirmed to be big on community involvement, with 90% of people stating that they have someone they can count on in hard times (world: 88%).
Income
An average Russian family has a yearly income of USD 19,292 (world: 25,908). This number seems to be rather high, which may be explained by the study’s methodology, issues of which are mentioned at the end of this article.
Society
The gap between rich and poor in Russia is substantial, with the wealthiest 20% receiving 8 times more than the poorest 20%. As compared to statistical levels, very few Russian women work long hours, with nation-wide numbers of people working overtime across both genders being only 0.2% (comparing to 13% study-wide).
Russia’s situation alongside other countries
Russian women’s existence is better than average in only 2 of 11 dimensions studied by OECD, namely work-life balance and social connections. It is ranked lower in subjective well being, ecology, housing and health, civic engagement, personal safety, and income and prosperity.
Major placements for Russia (out of 36 countries):
- work-life balance #8
- social connections #19
- earnings and jobs #21
- skills and education #23
- personal well being #26
- quality of environment #32
- personal safety #34
- civic engagement #35
- housing #35
- health #36
Ukraine is not included in this index, but their indicators are likely to be even lower.
Conclusions
Unfavourable gender ratios encourage Russian women to seek partners outside national borders.
Russians are the most concerned by topics of health, housing, and life satisfaction. Over 177 thousand people participated in the research, with the majority of users coming from the largest metropolitan cities (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Novosibirsk, and Nizhny Novgorod). These cities, especially 2 historical capitals, are known to have higher living standards than smaller settlements, which means that the numbers could be different if people from regional towns were involved in the research, where salaries are lower, and jobs are harder to find.
Personal safety and civic engagement are serious problems for Russian ladies, and while they don’t put them to the top of their priority lists, the indicators strongly suggest that those areas are not in a good order.
This ongoing research confirms that family and friends are Russian women’s backbone, and they strive for an adequate work-life balance.
OECD has been performing studies since 2011 across major developed countries though online questionnaires. Structured research allows to compare vital social indicators across the borders.
Read also:
- What Russian women think about marriage, family, and kids
- How serious are Russian women on dating sites about meeting a partner for life?
- Questions about Russian women
- Together for 6 years after meeting on EM — Maria and Francesco (Russia — Spain)
OECD statistics aren’t reflecting local factors such as typical Russian family connections and support, traditional values and ability to efficiently adapt to any new environment.
Robert,
Yes, they are reflecting precisely that. Read the article — it says that family connections (community) indicators are slightly higher in Russia than average.
“Russians confirmed to be big on community involvement, with 90% of people stating that they have someone they can count on in hard times (world: 88%).”
No statistics ever can reflect every social factor; OECD simply selected 11 dimensions to be able to compare country with other countries, and world averages.
Some of the statistics are surprising. I have problems believing the income statistic as the quality of economic life there seems low and I do think the women want a better life and that is good. I think they will be very good and productive citizens of any country and have a high propensity to succeed. I think the meeting requirements are onerous.
These OECD comparative statistics can be a bit misleading and can cause some Russian women to think Western Europe is just like Russia but with a higher standard of living. There are considerable differences, and it is always interesting to ask those Russian ladies who have traveled abroad what was their honest impression of, say Britain, their answers are very significant.
Gary, I agree that any statistics could be only as good as the methodology behind the research. If you read the whole report (not only the conclusions), it’s easier to see where it could leave gaps. The research on the life of Russian people and Russian women is only applicable to large cities, where incomes are higher, and also it states clearly that top 20% earners get 8 times more than the bottom 20%, which means the majority of families are potentially sitting on incomes 5-8 times less than $19,000/year, which is the “average”. Also, female incomes are generally lower… Read more »
Unlike most here – I have been to Ukraine & have dated women there. I am an older man – in excellent health, with a high income, adventurous, 6-feet tall, athletic, relatively attractive, educated. I have always had a “thing” for Slavic woman (they are so beautiful!). I have found the older women – those in the range I would be interested in – are mostly broken by their life experience and personal history. They have been self reliant for many years, they don’t trust men, and as poor as their life is – they can’t risk opening their hearts.… Read more »
It is wonderful that the family is the greatest value for Russian women. This means that all is not lost. But! The habit of patronizing children, pets and men – it’s horrible! Men can’t prove themselves! And, a more independent woman risks being left alone. Looking for a foreign boyfriend is good way for that woman.