Compared to 2020, the share of respondents who believe that in 2022 an economic crisis (+14%), major industrial disasters (+13%) and mass epidemics (+47%), has significantly grown. The number of Russians expecting ethnic conflicts, a war with NATO or neighbouring countries has also increased. Since 2017, the share of Russians expecting the year to bring corruption scandals and minister resignations as well as popular protests, has remained stable.
Year: 2022
Fears
Russians are most afraid of “illness of loved ones, children” (82%), “world war” (56%) and “abuse of power by the authorities” (53%). The structure of mass fears remains unchanged.
Politics and economy: estimates and prospects
About half of Russians consider the political climate in Russia to be tense, 41% view the economic situation as bad. A third of respondents believe that their quality of live has deteriorated over the last year. 25% and 22% of respondents, respectively, think that things will go better for their family and for Russia as a whole, 19% and 33% expect things to go worse. Most of the respondents expect both the political life and the economy in Russia to deteriorate in the coming months.