There is optimism that 2025 may well be better than 2024, so indicate the results of 37 country survey carried out around the world by the world’s longest polling Association, Gallup International. Two in five (41%) say that things will be better, one in four (24%) that they will be worse. While 29% have no expectations of any change. The post COVID recovery in optimism has remained (39% last year, 31% in 2022) but still significantly lower than the 25 year high of 54% recorded in 2015.
As they edge ever closer to The Kingdom’s 2030 vision, it is Saudi Arabians who are most optimistic with 82% feeling things will be better in 2025. Austrians are the most concerned, with 50% expecting a downturn in 2025.
But how optimistic are we in turns of economic prosperity? Here we are less confident. Fewer than one in three (29%) believe that the next year will be one of economic prosperity. Slightly more (35%) feel it will be one of economic difficulty with 31% saying it will be much the same as the last 12 months. Again, it is the Austrians (69%) feeling it will be difficult, this time joined with the neighbours in Germany where 66% feel it will be economically difficult in 2025.
The long-term trend on economic optimism however has improved. The significant gap between difficulty and prosperity which started to emerge in 2017 is now at its narrowest since then.
Our survey across 37 countries interviewed more than 37,000 adults aged 18+, each sample designed to be nationally representative of the adult population. When we explore demographic difference, we see younger citizens of the world are economically more confident (34% feeling 2025 will be more prosperous) than older citizens (20% among the 55+ year olds). And religion wise, Muslims (44%) around the world are significantly more economically optimistic than Christians (24%).
Finally, we also measured how happy people are relative to others across all 37 countries. Globally 58% report to be happy while 12% are unhappy. Regionally Southeast Asians are the happiest (73%) while those in South Asia are the unhappiest (36%) with China (86%) and Indonesia (85%) the happiest.
Note to Editors
Sample Size and Mode of Field Work
A total of 37,338 persons were interviewed globally from 37 countries. In almost each country a representative sample of around 1000 men and women was interviewed during October – December 2024 either face to face, via telephone or online. The margin of error for the survey is between ±3-5% at 95% confidence level.