Putin's job approval rating is almost twice as high as Obama's

Russian President Vladimir Putin has something to smile about. Everyone in Russia loves him, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Putin’s popularity in Russia is at its highest level in years, with 83 percent of Russians saying they approve of the job he’s doing. That ties his previous high rating that came in 2008 — and currently is nearly twice the approval rating of President Barack Obama in the U.S. (44 percent).

The Russians’ confidence in the honesty of elections, the military and national government also has seen a significant uptick in the last year.

From Gallup:

Russians’ positivity also colors other aspects of their lives. While Americans have become less satisfied with their freedom to choose what they do with their lives, Russians became more satisfied in 2014. A record-high 65% of Russians are satisfied with their freedom. Some of this may be attributable to improving economic perceptions. Despite U.S. and European sanctions earlier this year over Moscow’s intervention in Ukraine, more Russians see their economy getting better now than has been the case since 2008.

And while the Russians approve of their own leadership, they overwhelmingly disapprove of the leadership of the United States and European Union — while increasingly siding with China.