Page 18 - RusRPTApr21

2.8 Only just under a third of Russians consider Russia a European country
Only just under a third (29%) of Russians consider Russia a European country, while two thirds (64%) consider it to be a non-European one, the independent pollster the Levada Center found in a recent survey released on March 18. In 2019, these indicators were 37% and 55%, respectively.
On the whole, since 2008, the number of those who believe that Russia is a European country has dropped by almost half: from 52% to 29%. The number of those who think otherwise has grown in about the same proportion: from 36% to 64%.
At the same time, the point of view that Russia is a European country is most popular among the older groups of Russians: in the age group 55 and older, 33% think so. The opposite point of view, on the contrary, is characteristic of young groups: 71% for respondents aged 18-24 years, 69% for the group 25- 39 years old.
The share of Russians who consider themselves Europeans is also declining, although not so rapidly. In 2008, 35% considered themselves to be Europeans to one degree or another, by 2019 this share had dropped to 32%, and at the beginning of 2021 it was already 27%. At the same time, the number of those who somehow did not consider themselves European grew: 52% in 2008, 63% in 2019 and 70% in 2021.
At the same time, almost a third (31%) of respondents aged 55 and older consider themselves to be Europeans, while for groups 18-24 and 25-39 years old, this figure is 23% each.
The number of those who believe that Russia is treated with fear in the West has decreased: 25% in 2018, 18% at the beginning of 2021. At the same time, the share of those who are sure that the West treats Russia with concern is stable - 23%. 12% believe that Russia is treated with respect, in 2018 this
18 RUSSIA Country Report April 2021 www.intellinews.com