You may be used to thinking that people in Russia are gloomy and unsatisfied, but the latest research by the All Russian Public Opinion Research Centre shows that 84% of locals consider themselves happy.

Happy Russians

The survey is being conducted by WCIOM continuously and reveals not only the current state of affairs, but also how the level of people’s satisfaction changed over time.

Happiness Index

This number can vary from -100 to 100. The number of definite and rather ‘Yes’ responses is summed up, then the number of definite and rather ‘Not’ responses deducted, giving the value.

• 34% of respondents consider themselves definitely happy and 50% are ‘rather happy’ (84% in total).
• 4% are definitely unhappy and 9% are rather unhappy (13% in total).
• Thus, the current happiness index is 71.

The lowest value was 41 in 2011. The highest value was 73 in March this year.

Social happiness

Social contentment is about other people around the individual.

• 48% of respondents stated the number of happy and unhappy people around them is the same.
• 32% see more joyful faces around them.
• 16% see more sad faces among family, friends, and acquaintances.
• Thus, the current social happiness index is 54.

The social happiness index is calculated via quotients. The answer ‘same number’ is given the quotient 0.5, ‘more happy people’ — 0.9, ‘more unhappy people’ — 0.1. This value may vary from 10 to 90.

The lowest value was in 2011 (50) and the highest in 2012 (62). Surprisingly, this index doesn’t seem to be connected with the values of average personal contentment of the individual by year.

What makes Russians happy?

Things that makes locals content with their life are family (33%), health and life of their loved ones (21%), kids (15%). a good job (15%) and a good financial situation (9%).

The people who said they were content with their life were asked an open question, what makes them feel this way. Respondents could offer up to 5 answers. The top-5 reasons to feel content are listed here.

What makes people unhappy?

The people who consider themselves unhappy were also asked about reasons.

• 12% mentioned financial hardship.
• 9% pointed to the poor state of affairs in the country.
• For 5% their own poor health was the problem.
• Further 5% pointed to low wages and delays in getting salary payments.
• 4% listed as the reason general unhappiness about life.

This was also an open question, like the previous one.

Data: WCIOM