Since 1997, on the threshold Easter or shortly after this holiday, the Public Opinion Foundation has asked respondents the following question: "ARE YOU A BELIEVER, AND IF SO, WHAT RELIGION DO YOU PRACTICE?" (data given in % of those surveyed):

August 1997 April 2000 April 2001 April 2002 April 2003 April 2004 Orthodox Christian 54 54 53 60 59 58 Islam 6 5 5 4 8 5 Other religion - 1 1 1 1 1 atheist (I'm not a believer) 35 37 32 30 24 30 Hard to answer 3 3 6 4 6 6

The share of Orthodox Christians is largest among women (66%), the rural population (64%), as well people with an unfinished secondary education and middle incomes (63% each).

A the same time, the largest number of non-believers is found among residents of big cities (43%), men (38%), people with a higher education (36%), as well as those who voted for LDPR (37%) and Rodina (36%).