In the Soviet Union in the 1980s, there was some improvement in housing utilities and infrastructure, although a significant share of the population lived without utilities that would be considered basic or essential requirements today. For example, in 1980, one fifth of the population lived in homes without access to running water, and over half had no access to running hot water. By comparison, in the U.S. in 1980, over 97 percent of homes had access to all plumbing facilities, 99 percent had heating equipment, and 60 percent even had air conditioning. There were, of course, logistical factors that impacted the development of infrastructure in the USSR, such as harsh weather conditions and longer distances between settlements.
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U.S. Census Bureau. (August 1, 1991). Share of housing units in the Soviet Union with select utilities or characteristics in 1980 and 1989 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 24, 2026, from /statistics/1249334/characteristics-ussr-housing-1980s/
U.S. Census Bureau. "Share of housing units in the Soviet Union with select utilities or characteristics in 1980 and 1989." Chart. August 1, 1991. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 24, 2026. /statistics/1249334/characteristics-ussr-housing-1980s/
U.S. Census Bureau. (1991). Share of housing units in the Soviet Union with select utilities or characteristics in 1980 and 1989. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 24, 2026. /statistics/1249334/characteristics-ussr-housing-1980s/
U.S. Census Bureau. "Share of Housing Units in The Soviet Union with Select Utilities or Characteristics in 1980 and 1989." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 1 Aug 1991, /statistics/1249334/characteristics-ussr-housing-1980s/
U.S. Census Bureau, Share of housing units in the Soviet Union with select utilities or characteristics in 1980 and 1989 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/1249334/characteristics-ussr-housing-1980s/ (last visited July 24, 2026)
Share of housing units in the Soviet Union with select utilities or characteristics in 1980 and 1989 [Graph], U.S. Census Bureau, August 1, 1991. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1249334/characteristics-ussr-housing-1980s/