These are some of the findings of “End of Year” survey – the world’s longest running global survey started in 1979 by Gallup International. “End of Year” is an established tradition throughout the world – with its Hope Index, Happiness Index and economic situation expectations trend.
As 2021 draws to a close there is hope for a brighter future around the world, although not reaching high levels measured some years ago. 38 % of the world’s population now think that 2022 will be better than 2021, 28 % expect a worse year and 27 % believe 2022 will be the same as 2021. The picture looks similar to the end of 2020. 2008 still remains the year with largest pessimism around the world in the new century.
People in Indonesia seem to be most hopeful (76 % there expecting a better year), along with people in Albania (70 %), Nigeria (68 %), Azerbaijan (62 %) and Vietnam (59 %). Hope is low in Afghanistan (56 % expecting a worse year), Turkey (56 %), Bulgaria (48 %), Poland (47 %), Czech Republic (45 %) and Pakistan (41 %).
The
citizens
of
the
Republic
of
Korea
(with
54 %
expecting
the
upcoming
year
to
be
the
same),
Italy
(48 %),
Serbia
(42 %),
etc.
rather
expect
2022
to
be
the
same
as
2021.
According
to
our
Gallup
International
Association
HOPE
INDEX
(answers
“better”
minus
answers
“worse”)
the
top
5
optimists
are:
Indonesia
(+72),
Albania
(+65),
Azerbaijan
(+53),
Nigeria
(+51),
Mexico
and
Vietnam
(both
with
net
score
of
+47).
Top 5 pessimists are Turkey (-34), Bulgaria (-34), Afghanistan (-32), Poland (-30) and Czech Republic (-25).
In terms of regions and heavy weight countries optimism/pessimism ratio seems to show a relatively stable pattern over recent years. Europe, Russia and the Middle East tend to be more pessimistic, while countries in Asia, for instance, seem to be more optimistic. Hope in the USA, in Germany, in the U.K., Australia and India is decreasing sharply compared to last year’s survey while Japan, Mexico and Korea is significantly growing. Turkey is a unique case with a record increase of pessimism (due in part to the severe inflation factor).
Expectations
about
the
economy
show
anxiety.
However,
there
is
no
further
growth
in
worries
–
in
comparison
to
last
year.
Today
26 %
of
the
people
now
expect
economic
prosperity
for
their
country
in
the
year
to
come,
41 %
are
prepared
for
economic
difficulties
and
26 %
think
that
2022
will
be
the
same
as
2021
in
terms
of
economy.
In
Nigeria
(61 %
optimists),
Indonesia
(58 %),
Vietnam
(55 %)
and
Azerbaijan
(52 %),
Albania,
India
(both
with
49 %)
economic
optimism
is
visibly
prevailing
against
pessimism.
Expectations
for
economic
difficulty
are
most
predominant
in
Turkey
(72 %
there
expecting
difficulties),
Bosnia
and
Herzegovina
(72 %),
Bulgaria
(64 %),
Poland
(64 %),
Romania
(61 %),
Afghanistan
(60 %)
and
Germany
(59 %).
Europe seems more pessimistic as a hole and noticeably Eastern Europe, a pattern we have seen emerging over the years in GIA surveys. Developing regions, on the other hand, are often more cheerful and hopeful. National optimism is not usually just a matter of wellbeing but also matter of age of the population and perceptions of growth possibilities ahead.
Despite the pandemic and economic difficulties personal happiness prevails – as is always the case. There used to be some better times about five years ago, but still in terms of personal happiness people across the globe now remain rather satisfied. 56 % of world’s population now consider themselves “rather happy or very happy”, over a tenth say that they are more or less unhappy, while near a third say that they are “neither happy, nor unhappy”.
People
in
Colombia
(83 %
declaring
to
be
happy),
Kazakhstan
(81 %),
Albania
(74 %),
Malaysia
(78 %),
Nigeria
(78 %)
are
most
happy
according
to
their
self-evaluation.
Most
unhappy
are
people
in
Afghanistan
(36 %
saying
they
are
unhappy
or
very
unhappy),
Ghana,
Iraq
(31 %),
Ukraine
(31 %),
Turkey
(23 %),
Pakistan
(23 %)
and
Russia
(23 %).
According
to
GIA’s
HAPPINESS
INDEX
the
top
5
happy
countries
are:
Colombia
(happy
and
very
happy
minus
unhappy
and
very
unhappy
equals
+79),
Kazakhstan
(+76),
Albania
(+74),
Malaysia
(+73),
Azerbaijan
(+70).
Top
5
unhappy
are
Ghana
(+2
only),
Afghanistan
(+9),
Hong
Kong
(+11),
Iraq
(17)
and
Russia
(+18).
As
often,
Latin
America,
Africa
and
East
Asia
are
among
the
happiest
places
in
the
world.
Europe,
the
Middle
East
and
Russia
(again,
as
expected)
are
on
the
gloomier
side.
USA
scores
an
average
for
the
World
result.
Kancho
Stoychev,
president
of
GIA:
“The
unprecedented
state
financial
support
on
personal
and
business
levels
during
the
pandemic
so
far
played
a
positive
role
and,
in
a
way,
limited
the
spread
of
mass
pessimism
around
the
World.
But
it
didn’t
stop
it.
When
the
crisis
started
in
March
2020
a
majority
of
global
citizens
were
convinced
that
it
will
be
over
by
the
end
of
the
fall.
Year
2021
was
marked
by
the
expectation
that
vaccines
are
going
to
solve
the
problem.
Facing
2022
the
perception
is
that
we
are
rather
in
a
chronic
situation
without
a
clear
end.
The
growth
of
inflation
was
anticipated
after
the
massive
printing
of
money
but
although
it
started
to
pass
the
5 %
threshold
barrier
in
recent
weeks,
in
many
countries
the
real
worries
are
not
prevented.
And
the
big
tension
is
not
that
inflation
will
become
a
two
digits
phenomenon
-
most
probably
it
will
be
kept
in
the
single
digits
scope
-
but
that
it
will
be
significantly
longer
than
the
usual
few
months.
Together
with
disrupted
global
supply
chains
and
an
explosion
in
energy
prices,
the
world’s
population
now
faces
unprecedented
challenges
which
will
spread
political
tension
(not
only
in
the
less
developed
countries).”
Methodology
The Gallup International End of Year Survey (EoY) is an annual tradition initiated by and designed under the chairmanship of Dr. George Gallup in 1977. The survey is conducted every year since then. This year it was carried out in 44 countries around the world.
Sample Size and Mode of Field Work
A total of 41 560 persons were interviewed globally. In each country a representative sample of around 1000 men and women was interviewed during October-December 2021 either face to face, via telephone or online.
The margin of error for the survey is between +3 – 5 % at 95 % confidence level.
About Gallup International
Gallup International Association (GIA) is the leading global independent association in market research and polling.
For over 70 years Gallup International members have demonstrated their expert ability to conduct multi-country surveys on a comparable basis and deliver the highest quality. Our more than 100 members and partners are leading national institutes with a profound local knowledge of research methods and techniques, statistical sources, customs and culture differences of its own country and carefully selected by the Association Board. With only one member agency per country, members work together on a daily basis to share knowledge, new research techniques and tools, as well as to provide the most appropriate solutions to international research projects and service our clients to the best of our abilities.
For more information:
Kancho Stoychev (in
Sofia),
+359
88
8611025
Johnny Heald (in
London),
+44
7973
600308
David
Jodice
(in
Washington),
+1 703 424
5757
Andrey
Milekhin
(in
Moscow),
+7 499 136
8068
Dr.
Munqith
Dagher
(in
Baghdad)
+962
7
9967
2229
Steven
Kang
(in
Seoul),
+82-2-3702-2550
Antonio
Asencio
Guillen
(in
Madrid)
+34
608191334