Seventy-three percent of Russians are not planning to have kids in the next two or three years, a poll conducted by the Levada Center revealed.
According to the poll conducted between July 23 and 26 on 1,600 Russians across 45 regions, only 17% of respondents plan to have at least one child in the coming years. Ten percent could not answer.
The financial burden of having kids was the main factor influencing their decision.
Eighteen percent of respondents said they will be prepared to have a child if they "have a more certain future," "earn a good living" (19% in either case in 2007) or "have improved housing conditions" (13%). Another 13% would like to see more state support for families with underage children (11% in 2007).
However, 28% of Russians (32%) said their decision to have a child will not depend on any conditions.
Asked how many children they would like to have if they had proper conditions for that, 43% said two, 20% – three, 11% – none and 9% – one.
According to 54% of Russians, an ideal family should have two children. One in four respondents called for three children. Six percent believe there must be one child and 4% are not afraid to have five or more children.
Also, the number of abortion ban opponents in Russia has reduced to 48% from 57% in 2007.
A quarter of Russians believe that overall abortions should be banned and allowed only by medical referrals (20% in 2007). At the same time, another 16% want a total ban on abortions (15%).
The poll also showed that 67% of Russians oppose restoration of the childless tax on men aged 18 and above and for married women. The idea was supported by 20% of respondents.
