COVID19 has emerged top-most worry of Urban Indians in April 2020: Ipsos What Worries the World Global Survey

The Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has emerged as the top-most worry of urban Indians in the April 2020 round of the monthly, Ipsos What Worries the World global survey.  (COVID-19 was added to the macro list of issues in this round of the survey and of course will continue to be included, in the subsequent rounds).

In fact, the survey shows that for the global citizens too, COVID19 is the biggest worry with at least 61% stating it.

Other macro issues worrying Indians?

Urban Indians have chosen a host of issues that continue to bog them down; though all these worries have declined in intensity over March 2020 – 38% have mentioned Unemployment (-14%) for 33% Financial & Political Corruption (-8%), 24% said Crime & Violence (-19%) and 23% mentioned Poverty and Social Inequality (-3%).

We compared our issues with what is bothering global citizens. Interestingly, at least 3 issues were common.

“COVID19 is this gargantuan concern that has completely crippled our daily lives and of the global citizens. And it has surpassed all other macro issues to sit right at the top. The government will need to focus on this issue the most. And of course, on the other issues that worry Indians – of Unemployment, Crime and Violence and Poverty and Inequality,” said Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos India.    

India bucks global trend of pessimism

The silver lining continues to be the belief of majority of Indians (65%), who continue to feel that as a country we are heading  in the right direction. Other markets most optimistic about the future were China (a whopping 99% of those polled held this view, despite the crisis of COVID19), Saudi Arabia (90%), Peru (75%) and Malaysia (66%).

Majority of global citizens on the contrary believe their country is on the wrong track. The markets most pessimistic about the future were Chile (80%), France (74%) and South Africa (71%).

"Crisis notwithstanding, Indians are clinging onto hope and optimism," added Adarkar.

Technical note:

• Full results available from www.ipsos-mori.com at 13:00 GMT 29th April 2020.
• The survey was conducted in 28 countries around the world via the Ipsos Online Panel system. The 28 countries included are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America.
• 19,505 interviews were conducted between March 20th, 2020–April 3rd, 2020 among adults aged 18-74 in the US, South Africa, Turkey, Israel and Canada and age 16-74 in all other countries. Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.
• In 17 of the 28 countries surveyed internet penetration is sufficiently high to think of the samples as representative of the wider population within the age ranges covered: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain and United States.  The remaining 11 countries surveyed: Brazil, Chile, China, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Russia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey have lower levels of internet penetration and so these samples should instead be considered to represent a more affluent, connected population.  These are still a vital social group to understand in these countries, representing an important and emerging middle class.