This survey was carried out from September 26 to October 2, 2019 with a representative sample of all Russian urban and rural residents. The sample comprised 1601 people ages 18 or older from 137 localities in 50 regions of the Russian Federation. The survey was conducted as a personal interview in respondents’ homes. The answer distribution is presented as percentages of the number of participants along with data from previous surveys.
The statistical error of these studies for a selection of 1600 people (with a probability of 0.95) does not exceed:
3.4% for indicators around 50%
2.9% for indicators around 25%/75%
2.0% for indicators around 10%/90%
1.5% for indicators around 5%/95%
TRENDS IN RATINGS OF “FEAR”
(average score on a five-point scale: from “1” (“not at all afraid”) to “5” (“constantly afraid”); ranked in descending order according to September 2019)
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
Illnesses of loved ones, children | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
World War | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
Abuse of power by authorities | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
Illnesses | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
Poverty | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
Criminal assaults | 3.9 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.8 |
AIDS | – | – | – | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
Return to purges | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
Political crackdown | – | – | – | – | – | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
Death | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
Disasters | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.7 |
Losing savings | – | – | – | – | – | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
Losing one’s job | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Public humiliation | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
Old age | – | – | – | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
FEAR TRENDS
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF YOUR LOVED ONES AND CHILDREN FALLING ILL?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 3 | 4 |
3 | 10 | 6 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 11 | 12 |
4 | 22 | 21 | 28 | 24 | 29 | 31 | 33 | 27 | 26 | 14 | 15 |
5. Constantly afraid | 56 | 63 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 49 | 40 | 41 | 37 | 64 | 61 |
It is difficult to say | 5 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF A WORLD WAR?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 14 | 15 | 16 | 27 | 21 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 17 | 20 | 22 |
2 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 8 | 9 |
3 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 26 | 22 | 25 | 14 | 15 |
4 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 11 | 18 | 18 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 11 | 11 |
5. Constantly afraid | 37 | 35 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 46 | 42 |
It is difficult to say | 13 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF GOVERNMENT ABUSE OF POWER OR LAWLESSNESS?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 8 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 19 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 17 |
2 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 12 |
3 | 18 | 16 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 18 | 20 |
4 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 17 |
5. Constantly afraid | 33 | 36 | 22 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 38 | 33 |
It is difficult to say | 16 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF ILLNESS OR SUFFERING? **
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 17 |
2 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 11 |
3 | 17 | 11 | 22 | 21 | 27 | 21 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 20 | 21 |
4 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 29 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 14 | 17 |
5. Constantly afraid | 33 | 42 | 29 | 28 | 22 | 28 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 35 | 34 |
It is difficult to say | 11 | 11 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF BEING POOR OR DESTITUTE? *
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 12 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 27 | 24 |
2 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 10 | 11 |
3 | 20 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 18 | 20 |
4 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 19 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 14 | 13 |
5. Constantly afraid | 32 | 49 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 31 | 31 |
It is difficult to say | 10 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF A RETURN TO LARGE-SCALE PURGES?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 17 | 23 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 20 | 27 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 29 |
2 | 9 | 11 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 12 |
3 | 16 | 14 | 21 | 17 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 16 | 16 |
4 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 11 |
5. Constantly afraid | 23 | 18 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 31 | 28 |
It is difficult to say | 20 | 23 | 10 | 19 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF A CRACKDOWN IN THE POLITICAL ORDER? (given since 2013)
May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 24 | 24 | 35 | 32 | 31 | 27 |
2 | 18 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 11 | 13 |
3 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 18 | 21 |
4 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
5. Constantly afraid | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 25 | 23 |
It is difficult to say | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF CRIMINAL ASSAULTS?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 7 | 12 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 26 | 28 |
2 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 14 | 17 |
3 | 15 | 16 | 28 | 25 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 30 | 19 | 22 |
4 | 22 | 18 | 24 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 10 | 11 |
5. Constantly afraid | 40 | 34 | 25 | 18 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 29 | 22 |
It is difficult to say | 9 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF AIDS? (given since 2008)
Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 31 | 32 | 27 | 28 | 43 | 33 | 37 | 38 |
2 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 8 | 9 |
3 | 14 | 19 | 19 | 23 | 17 | 22 | 11 | 13 |
4 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 7 | 8 |
5. Constantly afraid | 16 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 34 | 30 |
It is difficult to say | 11 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF DEATH? **
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 11 | 10 | 10 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 35 | 35 |
2 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 16 | 11 | 9 |
3 | 17 | 11 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 28 | 25 | 26 | 16 | 17 |
4 | 19 | 20 | 26 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 10 | 11 |
5. Constantly afraid | 33 | 42 | 29 | 18 | 14 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 13 | 27 | 26 |
It is difficult to say | 11 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF NATURAL DISASTERS?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 17 | 20 | 21 | 25 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 29 | 19 | 34 | 33 |
2 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 14 | 14 |
3 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 24 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 20 | 21 |
4 | 12 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 18 | 20 | 26 | 13 | 20 | 10 | 10 |
5. Constantly afraid | 21 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 22 | 22 |
It is difficult to say | 15 | 20 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | <1 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF LOSING YOUR SAVINGS? (given since 2013)
May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 25 | 20 | 31 | 27 | 39 | 41 |
2 | 15 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 11 |
3 | 24 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 16 | 17 |
4 | 13 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 10 |
5. Constantly afraid | 16 | 15 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 18 |
It is difficult to say | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF LOSING YOUR JOB? *
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 12 | 7 | 13 | 32 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 31 | 30 | 41 | 39 |
2 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 12 |
3 | 20 | 13 | 22 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 14 | 16 |
4 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 13 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
5. Constantly afraid | 32 | 49 | 26 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 21 | 16 |
It is difficult to say | 10 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF PUBLIC HUMILIATION OR INSULTS?
Aug. 94 | Mar. 99 | Jul. 03 | Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 16 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 19 | 19 | 32 | 28 | 41 | 40 |
2 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 12 | 13 |
3 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 20 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 14 | 18 |
4 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 8 | 10 |
5. Constantly afraid | 22 | 19 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 23 | 18 |
It is difficult to say | 16 | 19 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF OLD AGE? (since 2008)
Jul. 08 | Sep. 12 | May 13 | Aug. 14 | Aug. 15 | Aug. 17 | Oct. 18 | Sep. 19 | |
1. Not at all afraid | 29 | 28 | 26 | 18 | 30 | 26 | 45 | 42 |
2 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 12 | 13 |
3 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 32 | 22 | 24 | 16 | 16 |
4 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 9 | 9 |
5. Constantly afraid | 15 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 19 |
It is difficult to say | 10 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
* Until July 2008, the question was presented as follows: “ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF UNEMPLOYMENT OR POVERTY?”
** Until July 2008, the question was presented as follows: “ARE YOU AFRAID, AND TO WHAT EXTENT, OF ILLNESS, SUFFERING, OR DEATH?”
Translated by Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies).
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