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European Values Study

Where is Europe heading? This is one of the main questions of the European Values Study (EVS) - the most comprehensive research project on human values in Europe. It is a large-scale, cross-national, and longitudinal survey research program on how Europeans think about family, work, religion, politics and society. Repeated every nine years in an increasing number of countries, the survey provides insights into the ideas, beliefs, preferences, attitudes, values, and opinions of citizens all over Europe.

The research program was initiated by the European Value System Study Group (EVSSG) in the late 1970s and has emerged as a well-established network of social and political scientists aiming at high standards in data creation and processing. It is now carried out under the responsibility of the EVS Foundation. From 1981 to 2017 five waves of survey were conducted in European and other countries. These surveys explore value differences, similarities, and value changes among citizens of the EVS member countries. There is an overview of participating countries in EVS waves provided. 

To facilitate time series analysis, the EVS Trend File 1981-2017 has been constructed. For comparisons on an international level, this data file can easily be combined with the World Values Surveys Trend File 1981-2022. The resulting Integrated Values Surveys 1981-2022 will cover surveys conducted in 118 countries/regions.

News European Values Study (EVS)

The table below gives an overview of the EVS surveys. Every survey is linked to a Study Profile page, providing detailed information on the survey and access to related documentation.

EVS Surveys

Survey/Wave Year Countries/
Territories
Datasets
1st wave (1981-1983) 1981-1983 16 Integrated dataset (ZA4438)
2nd wave (1989-1993) 1989-1993 29 Integrated dataset (ZA4460)
3rd wave (1999-2001) 1999-2001 33 Integrated dataset (ZA3811)
National datasets (ZA3776-ZA3808)
4th wave (2008-2010) 2008-2010 47 Integrated dataset (ZA4800)
National datasets (ZA4751-ZA4797)
5th wave (2017-2021) 2017-2021 37/2 Integrated dataset (ZA7500)
Joint EVS/WVS 2017-2022 Dataset 2017-2022 90 Joint dataset based on EVS2017 and WVS7 (ZA7505)
EVS Trend File 1981-2017 1981-2021 49 EVS Trend File (ZA7503) based on Longitudinal File 1981-2008 and EVS 2017
Integrated Values Surveys 1981-2022 1981-2022 118 Integrated dataset based on surveys from EVS project and WVS project
  1st wave (1981) 2nd wave (1990) 3rd wave (1999) 4th wave (2008) 5th wave (2017)
Albania       2008 2018
Armenia       2008 2018
Austria   1990 1999 2008 2018
Azerbaijan       2008 2018
Belarus     2000 2008 2018
Belgium 1981 1990 1999 2009  
Bosnia-Herzegovina       2008 2019
Bulgaria   1990/1991 1999 2008 2018
Canada 1982 1990      
Croatia     1999 2008 2017/2018
Cyprus       2008  
Czechoslovakia/
Czech Republic

 
1991 1999 2008 2017
Denmark 1981 1990 1999 2008 2017/2018
Estonia   1990 1999 2008 2018
Finland   1990 2000 2009 2017/2018
France 1981 1990 1999 2008 2018
Georgia       2008 2018
Germany* 1981 1990 1999 2008/2009 2017/2018
Great Britain 1981 1990 1999 2009/2010 2018
Greece     1999 2008 2018/2019
Hungary   1991 1999 2008/2009 2018
Iceland 1984 1990 1999 2009/2010 2017/2018
Ireland 1981 1990 1999/2000 2008  
Italy 1981 1990 1999 2009 2018
Kosovo       2008  
Latvia   1990 1999 2008 2021
Lithuania   1990 1999 2008 2017/2018
Luxembourg     1999 2008  
Malta 1983/1984 1991 1999 2008  
Moldova       2008  
Montenegro       2008 2019
Netherlands 1981 1990 1999 2008 2017/2018
North Macedonia       2008 2018/2019
Northern Cyprus       2008  
Northern Ireland 1981 1990 1999 2008  
Norway 1982 1990   2008 2018
Poland   1990 1999 2008 2017/2018
Portugal   1990 1999 2008 2020
Romania   1993 1999 2008 2018
Russian Federation     1999 2008 2017
Serbia       2008 2018
Slovakia/ 
Slovak Republic
  1991 1999 2008 2017
Slovenia   1992 1999 2008 2017
Spain 1981 1990 1999 2008 2017/2018
Sweden 1982 1990 1999/2000 2009/2010 2017/2018
Switzerland       2008 2017/2018
Turkey     2001 2008/2009  
Ukraine     1999 2008 2020
USA 1982 1990  

 

 

* 1981 only West Germany

EVS data and documentation can be downloaded free of charge from the GESIS Data Catalogue. Registration is required only for data downloads.

  • EVS Website provides information on the EVS research project, and on history and methods of the EVS surveys.
  • Atlas of European Values unlocks the results of EVS surveys for the general public;  presents values, beliefs, attitudes, and opinions through graphs, charts, and maps.
  • The interactive website 'Atlas of European Values' facilitates courses for secondary education and supports a better understanding of European values.