PUBLIC OPINION HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON

PUBLIC EXPECTATION IN ARMENIA

CRRC ARMENIA
21 May, 2020
Yerevan, Armenia
CONTENT

 PERCEPTION OF THE CURRENT SITUATION OF ARMENIA

 ASSESSMENT OF GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

 POLITICAL ACTIONS AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE POLITICAL GOALS

 DEMOGRAPHICS
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The aim of the research was to study: The perceptions of the Armenian population regarding general
situation of Armenia

The objective of the project: Inform the government, civic society, private sector and international
organizations about public perceptions regarding general situation of Armenia.

Timeframe and method of the survey: Data was collected though face to face interviews from
February to April 2020.

Sampling: RA residents 18 years old and older (95% confidence interval 2.5% margin of error):

Note: Weighted data are presented, generally % of total.

 T H E C U R R E N T S I T UAT I O N
PERCEPTION OF OF ARMENIA
63.8% are interested in matters of politics and government

How interested are you in matters of politics and government?

(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

38.2

31.1

17.4
13.3

Very interested Somewhat interested Not too interested Not at all interested
 Self-estimation of public activities within the past year and a half
How would you rate your engagement in the following activities within the past year and a half?
(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

Discussion with acquaintances about the events taking place in the country 37 30 14 8 11

Discussion with acquaintances about the events taking place in your community 23 36 10 15 16

Participation in public marches and demonstrations 18 14 14 12 42

Active promotion on certain topics in social networks (eg, Facebook) 6 10 15 20 49

Participation in any initiative aimed at solving your community's problems 3 6 8 13 70

Participation in a discussion about your community or country issues 3 4 9 14 70

Monitoring of budget spending 3 5 10 11 72

Meeting with your community leader or council member 3 5 9 11 72

Attending meetings organized by your community or municipality 2 5 9 12 72

Signing a petition 2 5 8 13 71

Requests to government agencies for information 2 5 7 12 74

Participation in meetings organized by NGOs 2 3 7 11 77

Participation in the condominium general meeting 23 5 9 82

Participation in discussions organized by political parties 13 7 11 78

Participation in community council meetings 12 8 10 79

Very active Rather active Neither active , nor passive Rather passive Very passive
Economic issues are the most frequently mentioned problems facing Armenia

What are the most serious problems facing Armenia today?

(up to 3 answers, % of total responses, N=1500, 3 answers received on average per respondent)

Unemployment 39.8
Poverty 12.6
Low income/salaries 11.4
In the social field 8.3
Emigration 4.2
Corruption 4
Conflict / dispute over Nagorno Karabakh 3.9
Social injustice 4.1
Internal political problem 2.8
Inflation/ High prices 2.8
Poor infrastructure 2.7
Foreign policy issues 2.0
Legal system 1.7
Economy 1.3
Other 1.2
Reckless exploitation of natural resources 0.5
Defense (army) 0.4
Level of crimes 0.3
Lack of foreign investment 0.1
 GOVERNMENT
ASSESSMENT of PERFORMANCE
 80% believe that corruption is a serious problem in Armenia

How serious of a problem is corruption in Armenia?

(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

47.4
Very serious
36.5

32.7
Somewhat serious
28.3

15.1
Not too serious
25.3
April, 2020
1.8
Not at all serious
3.9 November, 2019
0.0
Corruption does not exist
3.1

2.9
Don’t know
3.0
 57% of Yerevan residents think that Armenia is
moving in the wrong direction

Generally speaking, do you think that things in Armenia are going in the
right direction or the wrong direction?

Yerevan (N=547) 57.0 23.7 19.3

Other urban (N=434) 47.2 20.6 32.2

Rural (N=519) 39.8 14.0 46.2

Wrong direction Right direction Don't know/No answer

 57% of residents of Armenia do not believe in any improvement

How would you evaluate the prevailing mood of the Armenian population?
(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

Total disappointment, disbelief in any improvement 21

Insecurity, worry, fear for the future 19

Apathy, belief in fate 17

Not much hope for a better future 16

Hope that the future will be somewhat better 14

Belief that the future will definitely be better 10

I don't know/No answer 3

 45% of Armenians believe that social dissatisfaction is
ripening in society

How would you characterize the current situation in the country?

(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

The government is not effective enough; 40.0

there is no anti-crisis program

Social discontent is ripening in society but 23.7

there is no threat to the authorities

Social discontent is ripening in society. 21.1

That already poses a threat to the authorities

The government acts effectively, controls 15,2

the situation
 Effective measures have been taken to support people and businesses in
the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Yerevan (N=547) 34.8 31 19.6 14.6

Other urban (N=434) 32.1 28.7 21.5 17.7

Rural (N=519) 29.4 25.3 23,6 21.7

No I do not agree I agree partially I agree

 60% of Armenian residents negatively assess the work of the
government in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

How do you rate the work of the government in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?

(up to 3 answers, % of total responses, N=1500, 2.7 answers received on average per respondent)

The measures taken to ensure a stable socio-economic 5.5

situation and the fight against COVID-19 are sufficient

The measures taken to ensure a stable socio-economic

situation and the fight against COVID-19 are not sufficient 38

The Cabinet of Ministers timely responds to changes in the

situation with COVID-19 6.5

The government needs to more quickly resolve emerging

issues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic 14.2

The country has ensured compliance with emergency

requirements 8.8

The introduced emergency regime turned out to be

ineffective due to the fault of the government 27
 Is a change of government necessary in Armenia?

(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

57.4

18.2
15.3
9.1

No, the government controls Yes, as soon as possible A change of government I do not know
the situation will not change the situation
Political actions as a way
to achieve political goals
 What methods of achieving political change do you consider most effective?

(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

Conducting election campaigns 33.2

Organization of rallies and protest actions 27.1

Legislative activity of the parliament 14.9

Making management decisions by authorities 12.4

Organization of political parties 7

Implementation of the coup 4.3

Holding referenda 1.1

Do you consider holding protest actions an effective way to achieve political goals?

( multiple response, the share of «yes» answers per each option, without “I don’t know”, “Refuse to answer” options, N=1500)

Very effective 27

I do not know 13.2

Highly effective 19

Pretty inefficient 17

Not at all effective 16

I refuse to answer 7.8

 DEMOGRAPHICS
(closed-ended question, % of total, N=1500)

Male Female 23.3

17.5
15.3
13.8 14
44.8 9.2
55.2 6.9

From 18 to From 23 to From 31 to From 41 to From 51 to From 61 to 71 years old

22 years old 30 years old 40 years old 50 years old 60 years old 70 years old and older

42.7

27.2
21.3

4.2 3.5
0.4 0.8

Primary education (either Incomplete secondary Completed secondary Secondary technical Incomplete higher Completed higher Post-graduate degree
complete or incomplete) education education education education education
 Current financial situation of family/household
Which best reflects the current financial situation of your family/household?

(closed question, % of total, N=1500)

We do not have enough money even for food 14.7

We have enough money for food, but buying clothes is difficult 33.4

We have money for food and clothes; we can save some, but we do not
46.6
have enough money to buy expensive things, like a car

We can afford some expensive things, like a car, but not an apartment or
4.6
a country house

We can afford anything we want including an apartment or a country

.7
house