In survey on the country’s future, Russians name strong families as the most important value

---

Ahead of the final of the II Video Essay Contest "Dreams of the Future" and the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA, the editorial team of the Mail News project explored Russians' views on life in the country 20 years from now. The findings revealed that respondents see demographic challenges and improving quality of life as the key issues of the future, place the highest value on family, and believe that success cannot be measured by money alone.

The survey was conducted among readers of the Mail News project. More than 10,000 people from over 50 regions of Russia took part.

Family comes first

The survey showed that the majority of Russians (54 percent) believe that the best contribution to the future is building a strong family and passing traditional values on to younger generations. Other responses attracted significantly less support: 23 percent of respondents would like to improve the lives of people around them, 9 percent would like to pass on their professional achievements to future generations, and 8 percent would like to leave a legacy through creative accomplishments.

Views of the family of the future remain largely traditional. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said that, in the future as today, the most important aspects of family life would be financial stability and caring for children. Only 24 percent believe that the family model will change. Meanwhile, 13 percent place particular importance on preserving family traditions; 11 percent consider shared interests, personal development and spending leisure time together as the main values of the future family; nine percent prioritise emotional closeness and harmony; and six percent especially value time spent together.

These responses closely correlate with perceptions of the key challenges of the future. As many as 57 percent of respondents believe that the main tasks over the next 20 years will be increasing birth rates and improving quality of life. Twenty-eight percent think the state should focus primarily on developing technology and science. Eleven percent place the preservation of culture and social unity first, while four percent prioritise addressing environmental issues and adapting to climate change.

A country of opportunity

When asked what will make life in Russia attractive in 20 years' time, respondents offered a wide range of views. Twenty-six percent named a safe environment and opportunities for self-realisation as the main advantages of future life in Russia. Eighteen percent believe Russia will be able to take pride in accessible, high-quality healthcare. The same proportion see the country's greatest strength in preserving traditions while remaining open to innovation. Another 17 percent associate future advantages of living in Russia with advances in science and technology, 13 percent — with educational and career opportunities, and 9 percent — with highly developed digital services.

Survey participants also attempted to define the foundations of national identity. Thirty-six percent believe that shared history, culture and the Russian language form the basis of national unity. Slightly fewer respondents (31 percent) associate national identity with science and technology. For 20 percent, it represents a combination of tradition and modernity, while 14 percent believe that mutual support and shared values lie at its core.

Youth and success

The survey invited respondents to consider the role of teenagers in shaping the future: do they create tomorrow themselves, or are they destined to live in a world designed by adults? Opinions were divided.

Forty-one percent said that teenagers lack the life experience necessary to have a real influence on the country's future. However, the same proportion believe that young people should be listened to because they are capable of generating excellent ideas. Fourteen percent were even more emphatic, arguing that teenagers are better at recognising change and adapting to new technologies. These findings resonate with the results of the Video Essay Contest "Dreams of the Future", organised by the National Centre RUSSIA for young people aged 12 to 18. They show that participants are determined to build the future with their own hands. Today's teenagers draw inspiration from characters such as Alisa Seleznyova and the characters of the film Moscow–Cassiopeia. They see themselves as independent explorers, initiators of important projects, defenders of nature and pioneers of new planets.

It is clear that the younger generation is shaping a new understanding of success. In the survey, 43 percent of respondents said that a single definition of success will disappear in the future and that success will mean something different to each individual. Twenty-nine percent disagreed, insisting that money and status will always matter. Twenty-four percent believe that future success will be defined by quality of life and inner harmony, while four percent think that contribution to society and helping others will become the primary measure of achievement.

Ecopolises and cyber-villages

Most respondents believe that cities and villages will change very little in the future. This view was shared by 65 percent and 68 percent respectively. Sixteen percent envision environmentally friendly cities with parks, green spaces and comfortable living environments. Seven percent imagine technologically advanced megacities driven by digital services and automation. The same proportion favour compact cities where everything people need is located close to home. Five percent prioritise flexibility for remote work and living across different districts.

It is worth noting that teenage participants in the "Dreams of the Future" contest imagine far more radical transformations. The overwhelming majority believe that future cities will become "alive" in the literal sense: buildings made from sustainable materials will automatically regulate temperature, lighting and humidity; closed-loop production systems will eliminate pollution; and future achievements in science and technology will make robots responsible for maintaining cleanliness, caring for plants and collecting waste.

Views of the village of the future are equally diverse. Fourteen percent of respondents think that there will be modern settlements located near major agricultural production centres, while 13 percent envision small farms supported by advanced technologies. Three percent believe villages will become environmentally focused destinations for tourism and recreation, while two percent suppose that rural communities will eventually transform into IT settlements that support remote work in natural surroundings.

The future outlined by the survey respondents will be explored in greater detail by participants in the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future", which will take place at the National Centre RUSSIA in autumn 2026. Key topics will include the direction of scientific progress, the consequences of digitalisation, environmental development, and the transformation of family life.