Public Opinion Foundation Carries Out Poll On 2002 Census

89 percent of the Russians polled last month by the Public Opinion Foundation said with varying degrees of confidence they would take part in the national census next year, up on the 87 percent last September. A total of 1500 respondents were polled in 202 cities and towns of 64 Russian regions, the press service of the Russian State Statistics Committee told RIA Novosti Wednesday. The percentage of Russians who said they were interested in the national census was 58 percent in November, up on 56 percent last September and 51 percent last May. 79 percent said they are positive the census is vital anyway, even if they don't necessarily consider themselves interested to know its results. All told, 34 percent of the respondents knew of the upcoming census. The young are still normally less aware of it than are members of older age groups. Half the respondents aged 18 through 35 have not heard or read anything about it. Not more than 85 percent of the young people said they would take part in the census.