The results of a sociological survey conducted from September 20th to 26th, 2024 by Razumkov Centre's Sociological Service as part of its project implemented under the USAID/ENGAGE activity, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact. The contents of this survey are the sole responsibility of Pact and its implementing partners and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

The face-to-face survey was conducted in the Vinnytsia, Volyn, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhytomyr, Zakarpattia, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Ternopil, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmelnytsky, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi oblasts, and in the city of Kyiv. In the Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts, it was conducted only in the territories under the control of Ukrainian military forces, where no active armed conflict is taking place.

The survey was conducted using stratified multistage sampling with random selection at the first sampling stages and using a quota method of respondent selection at the final stage (when respondents were selected according to gender and age quotas). The sample structure represents the demographic pattern of the adult population in the areas where the survey was conducted as of the beginning of 2022 (by age, gender, type of urban/rural classification).

2,016 respondents over the age of 18 were surveyed. The theoretical sampling error does not exceed 2.3%. Given this, additional systematic abnormality within the sample may be due to Russian military aggression, namely the displacement of millions of citizens.

Assessing the economic situation

Citizens of Ukraine are quite skeptical about the economic situation in the country: in May 2021, eight months before Russia's full-scale invasion, 60% of respondents assessed it as “very bad” or “rather poor” (only 5% — as “good” or “very good,” and 32% as “neither bad nor good”). In September–October 2022, that is, seven months after the full-scale invasion, the share of citizens assessing it as “very bad” or “rather bad” increased (up to 64.5%). These assessments improved in February–March 2023, when we recorded a decrease in negative assessments even compared to the pre-war period: then the economic situation in the country was assessed as “very bad” or "rather bad” by 55% (4% as “good” or “very good,” and 37% as “neither bad nor good”). Following the survey conducted in December 2023, these assessments worsened (66.5%, 3%, and 27%, respectively). Indicators of the last survey conducted in September 2024 (60%, 6%, and 29.5%, respectively) are better than those recorded in December 2023 and are close to the pre-war ones recorded in May 2021.

Citizens generally assess the well-being of their families higher than the economic situation in the country. In May 2021, only 36% rated it as “very bad” or “rather bad” (48% as “neither bad nor good,” and 14% as “good” or “very good”). In September-October 2022, the share of citizens who assessed it as “very bad” or “rather bad” slightly increased (to 39%), and the share of those who rated it “good” or “very good” decreased to 10%. According to the survey conducted in February–March 2023, assessment of both the economic situation in the country and the well-being of one's family improved slightly and became close to the indicators recorded in May 2021: 35% assessed it as “very bad” or “rather bad,” 50% as “neither bad nor good,” and 12% as “good” or “very good.” In December 2023, assessments of the well-being of one's family slightly worsened (37%, 51%, and 10.5%, respectively) though they statistically did not differ from those observed in September–October 2022. However, the survey results conducted in September 2024 (31%, 50%, and 16%, respectively) prove certain improvements compared to the previous December and are even slightly better than the pre-war 2021 indicators.

Compared to immediately after the full-scale invasion and in June 2021, when assessing the financial well-being of one's family based on purchases affordable given this family income, the shares of citizens who answer that they barely make ends meet and do not have enough money even for bare minimum (from 9% in June 2021 to 12% in September 2024) and of those who claim they are doing well but are still unable to make certain purchases (buy an apartment, a car) (from 6% to 9%) have somehow increased, accompanied by a decrease in the share of those who answer that their family “has enough for living but the purchase of major goods such as furniture, a refrigerator, a TV, causes difficulties” (from 44% to 41%).

Shares of citizens who answer that when buying food, they more often choose the cheapest products, paying less attention to their quality (44%), and those who can more often afford higher quality (more nutritious or tasty) products, even if they are more expensive (45%) are almost equal. The latter comprises only 15% of those who answer that they “barely make ends meet” and 81% among those who claim they are “doing well.”

Compared to 2005, the share of citizens whose main source of means of subsistence is salaries has increased from 38% to 54%, and the share of those who live mainly off pensions, scholarships, monetary allowance, or alimony has decreased from 38% to 29%, from 7% to 2.5% of those who live off stocks or income from products from farming, land plot cultivation, from 5% to 3% — additional earnings, and from 3% to 2% — income from entrepreneurship.

Before the 2022 full-scale invasion, citizens did not really believe in rapid changes in the economic area: in May 2021, only 12% considered that the country's economic conditions would change for the better in the next 3 months, and 13% dared hope that the well-being of their family would change for the better during the same time. In the coming months after the survey, citizens mostly expected the situation to worsen: 22% answered that the country's economic conditions would change for the worse, and 18% that the well-being of their family would change for the worse during this time. However, the most widespread opinion was that the situation would not change significantly in 3 months (56% and 57%, respectively, did not expect changes in these areas).

In September–October 2022, the share of those who expected the situation in the economy to worsen increased significantly — up to 35% (due to a decrease to 37.5% of the share of those who believed that the situation would not change), and only 9.5% thought that the situation would change for the better. According to the survey conducted in February–March 2023, the share of those who expected the situation in the economy to deteriorate within 3 months decreased to 23%. Meanwhile, the shares of those who expected the situation to improve (up to 13%) and those who believed that it would not change (up to 45%) increased. Still, since the second half of 2023, citizens' short-term expectations have been worsening. As of September 2024, the share of those who believe that the situation in the economy will change for the better within 3 months is 7%, of those who think that it will worsen is 31%, and the share of those who don't think it will change is 48.5%.

Similar trends were observed in the dynamics of expected short-term changes related to family well-being. According to the latest survey, the share of those who believe that it will improve during this period is 8%, those who think that it will worsen — 24%, and that it will not change — 52%.

Since the 2022 invasion, there has been a significant improvement in economic medium-term expectations (2–3 years). Accordingly, in September–October 2022, the share of those who expected that the economic situation of the country would improve in the next 2–3 years increased from 30% to 43% as compared to May 2021, then up to 52% in February–March 2023. However, this optimism has now waned, with only 30% recorded in September 2024. The share of those who expect the situation to worsen is 23%, and of those who believe that the situation will not change is 21.5%.

In September–October 2022, the share of those who expected that their family's well-being would improve in the next 2–3 years increased from 29% to 41% in comparison to May 2021, and up to 49.5% in February–March 2023. According to the latest survey, this has decreased to 30%. The share of those who believe that their family's well-being will deteriorate during this period is 17%, that it will not change — 24%.

Social well-being of citizens

In particular, social well-being can be judged by answers regarding satisfaction with various aspects of life^[1]. Citizens are most satisfied with their relations within family (65% are satisfied) and with people around them (64%). That said, the share of satisfied exceeds that of dissatisfied with their jobs (49% and 14%, respectively), living conditions (45% and 22%, respectively), health status (38% and 25%, respectively), quality of goods and services (33% and 25%, respectively), public and social status (32% and 26%, respectively), the ability to satisfy cultural requests and needs (30.5% and 26%, respectively), and with their life in general (27% and 23%, respectively).

The shares of those who are satisfied and dissatisfied with the opportunity to get an education or ensure the necessary education for their children and grandchildren (28% and 27%, respectively) and with the freedom of action to make important life decisions (28% and 30.5%, respectively) do not statistically differ.

65% of respondents are not satisfied with the situation in the country in general, and 57% with the way social justice is ensured.

Citizens are most dissatisfied than satisfied with the activities of national and local authorities (48% and 13%, respectively), the social and political system of the country (47% and 12%, respectively), the level of democratic development in society (44% and 16%, respectively), their prospects for the future and opportunities to improve their status (40.5% and 17%, respectively), the opportunity to influence public life in the city, village, district (40% and 13%, respectively), the level of civil rights protection (39% and 16%, respectively), the opportunity to participate in the activities of civil society organizations, political parties (35% and 18%, respectively), their well-being (35% and 25.5%, respectively), the opportunity to spend leisure time properly (34% and 28%, respectively), and the opportunities to manifest one's abilities, personal fulfillment, self-realization (33% and 26%, respectively).

The level of satisfaction with most aspects of daily and social life has increased in comparison to 2014. Mostly, satisfaction with the opportunity to get an education or to ensure the necessary education for children and grandchildren has increased (the average satisfaction on a five-point scale increased from 2.5 to 3.0 points), quality of goods and services (from 2.7 to 3.1 points), the level of civil rights protection (from 2.3 to 2.7 points), the social and political system of the country (from 2.1 to 2.5 points), jobs (from 3.2 to 3.5 points), living conditions (from 3.0 to 3.3 points), well-being (from 2.6 to 2.9 points), one's own prospects for the future and opportunities to improve one's status (from 2.4 to 2.7 points), the opportunity to influence public life in the city, village, district (from 2.3 to 2.6 points), the level of democracy development in society (from 2.3 to 2.6 points), and the activities of national and local authorities (from 2.2 to 2.5 points).

A significant decrease has been observed only in the level of satisfaction with family relations (from 4.1 to 3.8 points).

The assessment of satisfaction with the situation in the country has increased from 1.9 to 2.1 points (although it remains significantly lower than satisfaction with most aspects of daily and social life, just as in 2014). The level of citizens' satisfaction with their lives in general has not changed (3.0 and 3.0 points, respectively).

Mental condition self-assessment. When assessing mental condition on February 24, 2022 (the day of Russia's full-scale invasion) on a scale from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning “the maximum level of calmness, confidence” and 10 meaning the maximum level of panic, fear, and uncertainty, respondents rated it at an average of 7.5 points (59% chose from 8 to 10, which meant a high level of panic, fear, and uncertainty).

When assessing mental condition at the time of the survey (September 2024), the respondents rated it better (5.9 points on average) than that at the beginning of the war. Still, the share of those who chose from 8 to 10 points decreased, from 59% to 27%, in comparison to their assessment of February 24, 2022, which indicates a significant improvement in the nation's mental condition since the beginning of the war. However, this indicator is worse than in February–March 2023, when it averaged 5.1 points.

Citizens' assessment of public socio-economic policy

As in previous surveys, Ukrainian citizens most often answer that the public social and economic policy is primarily aimed at supporting big capital (the rich, oligarchs) (54% of respondents answered so in the previous survey). Only 13% believe that it is aimed at supporting the low-income and disabled (lower class, the poor), and 10% believe it is aimed at establishing and supporting the middle class.

75% of respondents believe that there is no real equality of citizens before the law in Ukraine in general or in most cases, and only 16% believe it exists in all or most cases.

When answering the question of what exactly they deem to be the state's aid in raising the standard of living of citizens in the first place, the respondents most often mention the establishment of an income level with which every working person will be able to support themselves and their family at a decent financial level (38%). Still, the share of those who think so has significantly decreased in comparison to 2002 (55%). The share of those who associate this aid with job creation to ensure employment for all able-bodied citizens has decreased (19% and 16%, respectively).

Conversely in comparison with 2002, there has been an increase (16% to 30%) in the share of those who believe that this aid consists of subsidies, benefits, and social payments to low-income citizens, as well as those who associate this aid with the creation of conditions for free entrepreneurship, primarily for small and medium-sized businesses (from 5% to 8%).

Compared to 2018, the share of respondents who believe that the social protection system for citizens should be aimed at the unemployable only (the elderly, disabled, orphans) has increased (from 20% to 29%), and the share of those who believe that the state should provide targeted aid not only to the unemployable but also to some other population strata experiencing hardship (unemployed, poor families with children, etc.) has decreased (from 33% to 30%), as well as of those who believe that the state should protect all the disadvantaged and people with low incomes (from 33% to 28%). However, the citizens who believe that aid should be provided only to the disabled still constitute the minority.

SURVEY RESULTS IN TABLES

(The data in the tables are given in percentages, unless otherwise specified)

How would you assess the situation in the following areas of Ukraine? Please assess by a 5-point scale, where “1” means that the situation is very bad and “5” means that the situation is very good.

What is the general financial standing of your family?

When you buy food, you usually try to:

What is the main source of your means of subsistence in the last six months? Source:

In your opinion, how will the situation in the following areas of Ukraine change within the next three months?

In your opinion, how will the situation in the following areas of Ukraine change within the next 2–3 years?

To what extent are you satisfied with the following aspects of your daily and social life? (assessment is based on a five-point verbalized scale, where 1 means “absolutely dissatisfied,” 2 — “rather dissatisfied,” 3 — “partially satisfied and partially not,” 4 — “rather satisfied,” and 5 — “fully satisfied”).

Please assess your status as of February 24, 2022 on a 10-point scale, where “0” means the highest level of peace and security, and “10” means the highest level of panic, fear, and insecurity.

Please assess your current status, where “0” means the highest level of peace and security, and “10” means the highest level of panic, fear, and insecurity.

In your opinion, what is the main focus of the current state social and economic policy?

Is there real equality of citizens before the law in Ukraine?

When rising living standards are mentioned, people usually hope for “state aid.” In your opinion, what is “state aid” in the first place?

In your opinion, what should be the system of social protection of citizens?

DYNAMICS AS COMPARED TO PREVIOUS SURVEYS

How would you assess the situation in the following areas of Ukraine? Please assess by a 5-point scale, where “1” means that the situation is very bad and “5” means that the situation is very good.

What is the general financial standing of your family?

What is the main source of your means of subsistence in the last six months? Source:

* Joint study by the Razumkov Center and the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology

In your opinion, how will the situation in the following areas of Ukraine change within the next three months?

In your opinion, how will the situation in the following areas of Ukraine change within the next 2–3 years?

To what extent are you satisfied with the following aspects of your daily and public life? (assessment is based on a five-point verbalized scale, where 1 means “absolutely dissatisfied,” 2 — “rather dissatisfied,” 3 — “partially satisfied and partially not,” 4 — “rather satisfied,” and 5 — “fully satisfied”), average rates

Please assess your current status using a 0-10 scale, where “0” means the highest level of peace and security, and “10” means the highest level of panic, fear, and insecurity, average rates

In your opinion, what is the main focus of the current state social and economic policy?

Is there real equality of citizens before the law in Ukraine?

When rising living standards are mentioned, people usually hope for “state aid.” In your opinion, what is “state aid” in the first place?

In your opinion, what should be the system of social protection of citizens?

1. The assessment was carried out on a five-point verbalized scale, where 1 means “absolutely dissatisfied,” 2 — “rather dissatisfied,” 3 — “neither satisfied nor dissatisfied,” 4 — “rather satisfied,” and 5 — “fully satisfied.” ↑