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Well-being of residents of Ukraine in April 2021

The press release was prepared by Natalia Kharchenko

The assessment of public welfare by the population of Ukraine is negative, the index is -32 (its value can vary from -100 to +100). Compared to 2018, this estimate has increased slightly. On average, Ukrainians are much more satisfied with their own lives than with the life of the country (the index is higher by 47 points), over the past five years the index of individual well-being has risen from -8 to +15 and is now the highest for the observation period.

During April 16-22, 2021, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) conducted an all-Ukrainian public opinion poll. By the method of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) based on a random sample of mobile telephone numbers 2003 respondents were interviewed living in all regions of Ukraine (except the Autonomous Republic of Crimea). The sample is representative for the adult population (18 years and older) of Ukraine. The sample does not include territories that are temporarily not controlled by the authorities of Ukraine - the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, the survey was conducted only in the territory controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.

Statistical sampling error (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.1) does not exceed 2.4 % .

 

To assess and monitor public and individual well-being , KIIS has developed indexes: Index of perception of public welfare (IPW) and index of individual welfare (IIW). The values of the indexes can range from -100 to 100 points, where -100 indicates the lowest assessments of the situation and dissatisfaction, and 100 - the highest assessments and overall satisfaction with the situation in the country or their own lives. A detailed description of the index calculation methodology can be found in the Annex. But the idea of the indexes is that they combine several main indicators that characterize the population's assessment of the situation in the country (index of public welfare) and assessment of their own situation (index of individual welfare). The first index integrates the overall assessment of the situation in the country (whether we are moving in that direction), the assessment of the economic situation and prospects for development, and the second index - the assessment of their health, happiness, welfare and prospects for changing family welfare.

In April 2021, the average value of IPW is -32, while individual well-being is rated much higher - at 15 points. Such a large difference in indicators shows that, despite all the troubles, Ukrainians are on average much more satisfied with their own lives than with the life of the country.  

The values of both indices increased and are the highest for the entire observation period.

Graph 1. Dynamics of IPW and IIW indices in Ukraine during 2012-2021.

If to take a closer look at the components of the IPW index, we note that the lowest score among the three components of the index falls on the assessment of Ukraine's economic situation - the average for this indicator is -54 points (-50 on our scale - "poor economic situation"). If to talk about the expectations of what life will be like in the country, the scores were slightly higher - the average score for Ukraine is -18 points. The average assessment of the correctness of the direction of development of Ukraine is -24 points and it is due to the growth of this indicator is a general increase in the IPW index.

The growth of the index of individual welfare was mainly due to an increase in the level of optimism about family life in the future and an increase in assessments of the family's financial situation, which, however, remain negative (see Table 1).

Table 1.  Dynamics of indices of public and individual welfare in Ukraine in 2012-2017.

  02. 2012 11.2013 02.2014 05.2016 12.2016 05.2017 05. 2018 04. 2021
Direction of development of Ukraine -63 -55 -51 -57 -66 -59 -66 -24
Economic condition of Ukraine -47 -48 -53 -68 -63 -64 -55 -54
Expectations of what life will be like in the country -15 -14 -14 -32 -22 -25 -20 -18
Index of public welfare (IPW) -41 -39 -40 -53 -51 -50 -46 -32
Personal happiness 28 31 34 26 26 26 39 43
Expectations about family life in the future -5 0 1 -24 -6 -10 6 14
Health  14 11 16 10 11 10 11 14
Financial situation of the family -33 -25 -23 -42 -43 -42 -34 -16
Index of individualwelfare (IIW) 1 5 8 -8 -3 -4 6 15

 

What characteristics affect the welfare of Ukrainians?

Age

The older the person, the lower the level of welfare of the individual (Index of individual welfare decreases with age, see Graph 2), and the perception of public welfare is most positive among young people under 30, and for middle-aged and older people does not change.

Graph 2. IPW and IIW indices for different age groups.

GenderRepresentatives of different genders equally assess the situation in Ukraine, the individual welfare of men is significantly higher than that of women (see Table 2). This may be due to the fact that women live longer and well-being  worsens with age.

Table 2. Well-being of men and women

Gender Index of public welfare Index of individual welfare
man -32 21
woman -32 9

 Education

As the level of education increases, so does the level of individual welfare (see Graph 3). This is most likely due to the fact that higher education provides a higher level of income. The index perception of  public welfare (IPW) is virtually unaffected by education.

Graph 3. IPW and IIW indices for different educational groups.

Type of settlement.

Type of settlement (see Table 3) has little effect on the perception of public welfare and individual welfare. 

Table 3. Well-being of urban and rural residents

Urban and rural population Index of public welfare Index of individual welfare
Urban population -33 16
Rural population -31 12

Region.

As for the index of perception of public welfare, it is relatively the highest in the Western region (although there is a negative, equal to -25), see Table 4. But in other regions it is even worse, in the Central -29, in the Southern (-39), and the lowest coefficient in the Eastern region (-42). Thus, we can say that the region of residence has some influence on the assessment of public welfare (the difference between the Western and Eastern region is 17 points).

As for individual welfare, it is highest in the West (19 points) and relatively lower in the East (10 points).

Table 4. Well-being of urban and rural residents

 Macroregions Index of
public welfare
Index of
individual welfare
Western -25 19
Central -29 15
Southern -39 12
Eastern -42 10

 

Annex 1. Methods of constructing indices

To construct the indices, we ask 7 questions: 4 questions are taken from the list of those used to build the index of social moods calculated by the Levada - Center, 3 questions are standard for KIIS Omnibuses. These 7 questions are divided into 2 indices based on the results of the factor analysis. Below you can find a list of questions.

Index of perception of public welfare (IPW):

• In your opinion, things in Ukraine are now going in the right direction or in the wrong direction?

• How would you assess the economic condition of Ukraine?

• If to talk about Ukraine as a whole, in your opinion, in a year life in it will be better or worse than now?

Index of individual welfare (IIW):

• Do you consider yourself a happy person?

• How would you rate your health?

• Do you think that in a year your family will live better or worse than now?

• Please look at the card and say which of the statements best describes your family's financial situation?

 

The value of indices can range from - 100 to 100 points, where - 100 indicates the lowest assessments of the situation for Ukrainians and dissatisfaction with the situation, and 100 - the highest assessments and general satisfaction with the situation in the country and / or their own lives.

Annex 2. Questionnaire questions and coding of alternatives:

In your opinion, the leadership of Ukraine is leading the country in the right or wrong direction? ONE RESPONSE

In the right direction 100
In the wrong direction -100
Difficult to say 0

How would you assess the economic situation in Ukraine? ONE RESPONSE

Very good 100
Good 50
Satisfactory 0
Bad -50
Very bad -100


If to talk about Ukraine as a whole, do you think that in a year life in Ukraine will be better or worse than now? ONE RESPONSE

Much better 100
Somewhat better 50
Same as now 0
Somewhat worse -50
Much worse -100

Do you consider yourself a happy person? ONE RESPONSE

Yes 100
Rather yes than no 50
Yes and no 0
Rather no than yes -50
No -100

In a year, you think your family will live better or worse than now? ONE RESPONSE

Much better 100
Somewhat better 50
Same as now 0
Somewhat worse -50
Much worse - 100

How would you rate your health? ONE RESPONSE

Very good 100
Good 50
Mediocre (neither good nor bad) 0
Bad –50
Very bad –100

Which of the following statements is most relevant to your family's financial situation?

(7) We can afford to buy whatever we want 100
(5 6) We can afford to buy some valuable things 50
(4) We have enough money for food, clothes and we can save a little 0
(2 3) We have enough money for food, but it is already difficult to buy clothes – 50
(1) We don't even have enough money for food – 100

 

Annex 3. Tables

In your opinion, the leadership of Ukraine is leading the country in the right or wrong direction? 

  %
In the right direction 28,5
In the wrong direction 52,4
Difficult to say 18,5
Refusal 0,5
Total 100

How would you assess the economic condition of Ukraine?

  %
Very good 0,3
Good 2,2
Satisfactory 22,3
Bad 37,6
Very bad 35,8
DIFFICULT TO SAY 1,8
Total 100

If to talk about Ukraine as a whole, in your opinion, in a year life in Ukraine will be better or worse than no?

  %  
Much better 2,6 Better  24.5 
Somewhat better 21,9
Same as now 25,1  
Somewhat worse 21,7 Worse 40.8 
Much worse 19,1
DIFFICULT TO SAY 9,7  
Total 100  

 

In a year, you think your family will live better or worse than now?

  %
Much better 8,8
Somewhat better 29,8
Same as now 32,7
Somewhat worse 9,0
Much worse 7,4
Difficult to say 12,4
Total 100

 

Do you consider yourself a happy person?

  %  
Yes 44,4 Yes 68,4 
Rather yes than no 24,0
Yes and no 11,8 11,8
Rather no than yes 6,1 No 17,2
No 11,1
Difficult to say 2,5  
Total 100  

How would you rate your health?

  %  
Very good 5,0 Good 39,9
Good 34,9
Mediocre (neither good nor bad) 44,9 Mediocre 44,9 
Bad 11,2 Bad 14,2
Very bad 3,0
Difficult to say ,9  
Total 100  


Which of the following statements best describes your family's financial situation?

  %
We don't even have enough money for food 7,5
We have enough money only for the most necessary things 23,3
We have enough money for daily expenses, but it is already difficult to buy clothes 14,6
We usually have enough money, but to buy expensive things, such as a refrigerator,
TV or washing machine, we have to save for a long time, borrow or get a loan
33,1
We can afford expensive purchases without much difficulty, but buying a car will still be difficult 15,1
We can buy a car without much effort, but buying a home is still not available 2,6
At this time we can afford everything we want 1,5
Difficult to say 2,2
Total 100

 


10.6.2021
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