Russia's NHR

Russia’s NHR is poor because of

1. Lack of Political Freedom and Civic Autonomy

Russians have limited freedom in political expression, protest, and press.
Surveillance, censorship, and suppression of dissent are widespread.
Citizens feel disempowered and unable to influence their lives or society, which strongly correlates with lower life satisfaction.
Elections are seen by many as non-competitive or rigged.

💬 People who feel they can’t change their circumstances tend to report lower happiness — even if they’re economically secure.

🌍 2. Geopolitical Conflict and Isolation

The war in Ukraine (2022–present) has led to:
- International sanctions affecting the economy and daily life.
- Rising emigration, especially among youth and professionals.
- Fear, propaganda, and psychological stress, as dissent is criminalized.
These factors have left many Russians feeling trapped, anxious, or disillusioned.

💸 3. Economic Instability and Inequality

While Russia has high resource wealth, it’s highly unequally distributed.
Many outside of urban centers like Moscow or St. Petersburg face:
- Low wages
- Poor infrastructure
- Limited job prospects
Economic opportunity is often tied to political loyalty or connections, limiting social mobility.

🧠 4. Poor Mental and Public Health

Russia has one of the lowest life expectancies in Europe, especially for men.
Mental health services are underfunded and stigmatized.
Alcoholism and substance abuse remain serious public health issues.
Suicide rates are historically high, especially in rural areas.

Low trust in institutions: government, media, police, courts.
Corruption is pervasive, undermining faith in the system.
Social trust among citizens is also low, which weakens community life.

📉 6. Cultural and Historical Legacy

Centuries of authoritarian rule, war, and hardship have fostered a culture of stoicism and skepticism.
Expressing personal happiness is often seen as naïve or self-indulgent.
This may depress self-reported happiness scores, even if conditions improve.

➕ In Contrast: What Russia Does Well

Strong social support networks (family, close friends).
High literacy and education levels.
Rich cultural and artistic heritage, though often under political pressure.

🔚 Summary

Russia’s low NHR stems from a toxic mix of limited freedom, institutional distrust, economic inequality, mental health strain, and international isolation. While Russians are known for resilience, that doesn’t translate to high happiness — especially when freedom, dignity, and trust are missing from daily life.