The question of language: the results of the latest research in 2012

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25.05.2012

The question of language: the results of the latest research in 2012

According to the aggregated results of surveys conducted by the Rating Group in 2012, 50% of respondents consider Ukrainian to be their native language, 29% consider Russian. At the same time, 20% consider both Ukrainian and Russian equally their native language. Another 1% consider another language to be their native one.
In the West (96%), Center (75%), and North (58%), Ukrainian is predominantly considered the native language. At the same time, in the East (36%), South (56%), and Donbas (67%), Russian predominates.
Ukrainian is more often considered the native language by rural residents and older people.
45% of respondents usually speak Ukrainian at home, 39% speak Russian, and 15% speak both Ukrainian and Russian equally.
In the West (91%), Center (73%), and North (51%), people mainly communicate at home in Ukrainian; in the East (65%), South (67%), and Donbas (83%), in Russian.
Ukrainian is more often spoken by people of middle and older age, and much more in rural areas.
Thus, Ukrainian is spoken by fewer people than those who consider it their native language. Conversely, Russian is spoken by more people than those who consider it their native language.
On the issue of granting Russian the status of a state language, there is complete parity: 46% of respondents are against, and the same share (45%) are in favor. Another 8% are undecided.
It should be noted that over the past two years, the number of opponents and supporters of bilingualism has been almost equal. However, compared with 2009, support for granting Russian the status of a state language has declined (from 54% to 46%), while the number of opponents has increased from 40% to 45%.
The strongest supporters of bilingualism are residents of the Donbas (84%), the East (71%), and the South (65%). Opponents are concentrated in the Center (58%), the North (68%), and the West (89%).
Granting Russian the status of a state language is mainly supported by voters of the Communist Party of Ukraine (72%) and the Party of Regions (71%).
Mostly opposed are supporters of UDAR (59%), Civic Position (66%), Batkivshchyna (69%), Front for Change (70%), and 100% of Svoboda voters.
Despite the fact that Ukrainian is spoken more often by older people, young people are more opposed to bilingualism.
Another important feature: among respondents who support Ukraine’s accession to the Customs Union, the vast majority (72%) support granting Russian the status of a state language. At the same time, among those who support signing a free trade agreement with the European Union, the vast majority (72%) are against bilingualism. As is known, young people also more strongly support Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

Methodology