Gallup: 60% of Russians say economic situation was worsening, 20-year record

According to a Gallup survey conducted in Russia in March-May 2026, 60% of Russians believe that economic conditions in their city or region are worsening, the highest figure in the survey's 20-year history. At the same time, confidence in the armed forces, government, and elections has plummeted sharply. President Putin's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine.

American polling firm Gallup conducted a survey in Russia from March to May 2026, the results of which show deteriorating attitudes on an unprecedented scale regarding the economy, employment, and public confidence in institutions.

Economic hopes have dimmed

Six out of ten Russians, precisely 60%, said that economic conditions in their city or region are worsening. This is the highest result Gallup has measured for this question in its 20-year history in Russia. Previous peaks were reached during the coronavirus pandemic: in 2020, the share of people perceiving economic deterioration was 45%, and in 2021 it was 50%. Only 27% of respondents in 2026 believed conditions had improved.

Similar figures emerged in questions about living standards: 56% of respondents said their standard of living was declining, also a 20-year high. Only 29% of respondents reported experiencing an improving standard of living.

Bleak outlook on the labour market

Assessments of the labour market have also deteriorated markedly. In 2026, 58% of respondents said it was currently a bad time to look for work, while 35% considered it a good time. A year earlier, these figures were reversed: 46% thought it was a bad time, and 49% viewed the labour market favourably. Such a rapid shift indicates that Russian citizens' concerns about their economic future have grown dramatically over the course of 2026.

Trust in institutions crumbling

Gallup's survey registered record declines in Russians' confidence in major state institutions. Trust in the armed forces fell from 79% to 66%, trust in the government from 67% to 53%, and trust in the fairness of elections from 56% to 40%. Particularly sharp decline occurred in positive assessments of press freedom: it fell from 59% to 34%.

Putin's approval rating at lowest level

Parallel to Gallup's findings, Russia's own polling firms have noted shifts. Both the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) and the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) began registering declines in Vladimir Putin's approval rating in spring 2026. A survey released by FOM at the end of June showed that Russians' confidence in Putin has fallen to 69%, the lowest level since the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.

These figures paint a picture of a country where the cumulative impact of war spending, international sanctions, and economic isolation is increasingly manifesting itself in the everyday lives and minds of ordinary citizens.