Students and staff

European Social Survey (ESS)

Project title in Latvian: Eiropas sociālais pētījums

Project title in English: European Social Survey (ESS)

Project leader at UL: Assist. Prof., Senior Researcher Jurijs Ņikišins, European Social Survey National Coordinator for Latvia

Project duration: ESS is conducted every two years within the framework of successive survey rounds (ESS Rounds). Latvia has participated in Round 3 (2006–2008) and Round 4 (2008–2010). Since 2017, Latvia has been a full member of the ESS ERIC consortium and has participated in the survey on a regular basis:

  • ESS Round 9 – from 2018 to 2020;
  • ESS Round 10 – from 2021 to 2023;
  • ESS Round 11 – from 2023 to 2025.

In 2025, preparations are under way for Latvia’s participation in ESS Round 12.

Project objectives: European Social Survey is an academically driven, cross-national survey that has been carried out in Europe since 2001. ESS data include responses to more than 300 questions, allowing for the assessment of people’s attitudes, values and behaviours across European countries. The questionnaire focuses on, inter alia, media use, institutional and social trust, democracy, government and politics, national and ethnic identity, health and well-being, social life, security, discrimination, immigration, climate, religion, and key demographic indicators.

Each ESS Round also includes rotating modules that enable in-depth investigation of additional, policy-relevant and timely topics. For example:

  • in ESS Round 9 (2018–2020) the rotating modules focused on perceptions and understandings of justice;
  • in ESS Round 10 (2020–2022) they addressed understandings and evaluations of democracy in Europe, digital social contacts and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • in ESS Round 11 (2023–2025) they examine manifestations of social inequalities in health and issues related to gender equality.

Funding and oversight: The implementation of the ESS in Latvia is funded from the state budget of the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 259 of 26 May 2015. Administrative oversight of the project is provided by the Ministry of Education and Science and the Latvian Council of Science.

Access to data and documentation: Data and documentation from all ESS Rounds are available free of charge via the ESS Data Portal. ESS data are freely accessible for non-commercial purposes and are subject only to a straightforward registration procedure.