The percentage of Russians who say they are not willing to leave the country on a permanent basis has hit a 7-year record, according to a new survey published by the independent Levada Center.
According to official data, 377,000 Russians left the country in 2017, the latest period for which figures are available and a six-year record. However, Russian investigative media reported last month that the real number of citizens who emigrated could be six times higher than official figures suggest.
The share of Russians who say they would “absolutely” not want to emigrate has reached a seven-year high of 61 percent, according to Levada’s latest poll published Monday. Another 21 percent said they would “rather not” want to emigrate.
“This can be explained both by the scale of the country, as well as the fact that many continue to feel that they are part of a great power and are not in need of anything foreign,” says Levada sociologist Denis Volkov.
Overall, 17 percent of all Russians said they were willing to migrate, a share that is within the 20 percent range that has expressed that wish in recent years.
Meanwhile, young people aged 18 to 24 were more than twice as likely (41 percent) to want to move abroad as the general population.
Conversely, only 5 percent of those aged 55 and over entertained the idea of leaving Russia.
The age gap was also consistent in the perception of Russian expats abroad: almost half of younger respondents said they view emigres positively, versus almost 20 percent of older respondents.
Levada conducted the survey among 1,600 respondents in 52 Russian regions between Dec. 13 and Dec. 19.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
