Russians continue to report high levels of well‑being, even as their financial position deteriorates. One in four say their finances have worsened in recent months, yet measures of ‘happiness’ have dipped only slightly, according to domestic sociologists. Even with 31% of respondents showing signs of anxiety or depression, overall life satisfaction remains largely intact. Levels of happiness in Russia have held steady despite the prolonged military campaign and targeted slowdowns aimed at cooling the economy.
The Public Opinion Foundation (POF) has published fresh data on its ‘well-being index’, which aggregates self-assessments of happiness, social standing and overall life satisfaction.
Responses to broader questions about ‘happiness’ and ‘satisfaction’ have shown far less deterioration over the past year than indicators of material well-being or public anxiety.
Surveys in 2026 point to a clear decline in household finances. More than a quarter of respondents say their situation has worsened over the past two to three months, the highest share since 2022
(seeNG datedMarch 4, 2026). The trend is reflected in hard data: non-cash consumer spending at the start of 2026 fell below last year’s level.
Romir, a research group, has also recorded a sharp drop in consumer confidence. Its index has been falling since the fourth quarter of 2025 and has now slipped into negative territory for the first time in years. Regional reports from the Сentral Bank point to weakening household finances, with effective demand falling across a broad range of goods (see NG dated March 12, 2026).
‘Retailers assessments of demand were close to their lowest levels in the past three years. Car dealers across nearly all macro-regions reported falling demand. Sellers of furniture, construction materials, household goods and appliances in Central Russia, the Volga-Vyatka region, Siberia, the south and the Far East reported either declining demand or persistently subdued levels. Catering businesses in the Volga-Vyatka region and the Far East also noted a drop in footfall,’ the Central Bank said.
Households and economists alike report worsening financial conditions, despite official data pointing to lower poverty and rising wages and pensions.
However, broader measures of ‘happiness’ and ‘life satisfaction’, which underpin overall well-
being, tend to outweigh more immediate pressures such as financial strain or reduced prospects of buying a home or car.
More than a third of respondents, 35%, describe their level of happiness as ‘high’, while 23% say it is ‘above average’. Only about 6% report a ‘low’ level of happiness, with a further 7% placing themselves ‘below average’. Average self-assessments of happiness in Russia rose by nearly 15% between 2018 and 2023, before slipping by roughly 1.5% over the past year.
Respondents are also asked to rate their lives on a scale between the best and worst possible outcomes. Around 15% describe their life as ‘bad’ or ‘rather bad’, while 51% consider it ‘good’ or ‘rather good’. Sociologists describe this as a position on the ‘Cantril ladder’, which gauges how individuals rate their lives between the best and worst possible outcomes. That position for the average Russian has remained broadly unchanged over the past year. By contrast, self-reported ‘happiness’ and ‘life satisfaction’ have edged lower, pulling down the overall well-being index.
‘Well-being is a subjective category that is difficult to measure using rigid survey methods,’ sociologists say, noting that such surveys form part of a broader global effort to quantify living standards.
Some international studies also incorporate data on Russia.
International comparisons paint a mixed picture. In some rankings, including the UN Human Development Index and the Global Well-being Index, Russia sits in the top quartile. In others, such as the Social Progress Index, it ranks mid-table. In indices including the OECD Better Life Index, the World Happiness Report and the Prosperity Index, it falls closer to the bottom.
Overall, reported happiness remains high, with only the balance between ‘completely’ and ‘moderately’ happy respondents shifting. A year ago, eight in ten Russians described themselves as happy, including more than a third who said they were ‘completely happy’, according to VTsIOM. Few are willing to describe themselves as unhappy, which may help explain why psychologists still observe high levels of anxiety and depression even among those reporting happiness.
‘Pronounced anxiety and depressive symptoms are observed in 31% of Russians. This is driven by pessimistic economic expectations and growing fatigue with the military operation, alongside a marked decline in hopes for its swift conclusion,’ researchers at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Psychology (IP RAS) said.
Their findings suggest depression is more common in large cities, while anxiety is more prevalent in rural areas. The lowest levels of psychological well-being are recorded among people aged 25–34, low-income groups and employees in the commercial sector (see NG dated March 17, 2026).
