Happiness Trends in Russia: 18-24 Year Olds Show Growth and Key Influences
In the most recent period, the average happiness score among Russians aged 18 to 24 rose from 6.6 to 7.7, signaling a notable improvement in young adults’ well-being. The study highlights that expectations for the future and perceived opportunities for personal and professional development sit among the top three reasons people in Russia feel happier. This insight comes from a Renaissance Bank survey, with findings cross-checked by socialbites.ca, offering a window into how young Russians perceive their prospects and overall life satisfaction in the current context.
When broken down by self-assessment, 19% of respondents described themselves as absolutely happy, an increase from 12% the previous year. Conversely, 18% reported being fairly unhappy, and 12% identified as completely unhappy. These figures illustrate a broader distribution of mood and sentiment within the youth population, underscoring that happiness is multifaceted and influenced by daily circumstances, personal goals, and social factors.
Gender differences emerged in the study, with women reporting higher happiness levels than men on average. The female cohort recorded an average score of 7.3, while men averaged 6.9. This gender gap invites deeper consideration of how factors such as social roles, work-life balance, and access to opportunities shape well-being across different groups in the country.
Economic status and career fulfillment appear as strong determinants of happiness. Individuals earning 130,000 rubles or more tended to rate their happiness higher, suggesting that wage levels correlate with perceived security and life satisfaction. Among industry groups, those in commerce reported the highest happiness with an average around 7.8, followed by professionals in business and entrepreneurship at 7.6. Company owners, civil servants, and middle managers clustered around 7.5 and 7.2, respectively, while the arts—actors, musicians, and writers—scored about 6.5. These patterns reflect how income, status, and job type intersect to shape happiness across sectors and roles.
Additional life circumstances also matter. Being married was associated with a happiness average of 7.4, while having a large family correlated with 7.7, indicating that strong social and familial networks contribute meaningfully to well-being. The broader social fabric, including relationships and community ties, appears to reinforce positive moods and a sense of meaning in daily life.
Looking ahead, respondents projected continued improvement. Roughly 62% expressed confidence that people would be happier next year, marking a rise of about five percentage points from the prior survey. At the same time, optimism about happiness in 2024 showed a modest decline, with only about 14% predicting a better year than the current one. These expectations reflect a mix of cautious optimism and awareness of ongoing economic and social dynamics. Analysts note that such outlooks often mirror broader consumer and employment trends and can influence public sentiment over time. The perspective was shared by Olga Konyushkova, a senior vice president who leads the Renaissance Bank marketing division, signaling the institution’s interest in how economic signals translate into personal well-being for the population.
Finally, there is a biological dimension to happiness. Contemporary biology acknowledges that some individuals may have a genetic predisposition toward higher or lower baseline levels of happiness, which interacts with environmental factors like income, relationships, and career satisfaction to shape overall well-being. This combination of biology and lived experience helps explain why happiness levels vary so much even within the same age group and country.