Based on a representative sociological survey and expert interviews in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the article examines the perception of various social problems, as well as the protest potential of the population. It is revealed that the most disturbing problems of residents of Yakutia are related to social causes, low living standards, the amount of housing and utilities tariff s, reduced access to social benefits and, to a lesser extent, the problems of inability to fight for their rights, as well as corruption, unemployment, etc. It is shown that there are some differences in the perception of problems of Sakha (Yakuts) and ethnic Russians, as well as residents of the Republic of other ethnicities, but in general, the hierarchies of problems are similar. It was found that residents of the capital of the Republic often perceive problems in a similar way, and there is a more noticeable differentiation in the perception of problems by Yakuts and ethnic Russians in industrial areas. The declared protest activity in the Republic at the time of the study was recorded higher than at that time in the country as a whole, which is due to a complex of systemic social factors, as well as situational factors for the Republic.