In a World of Growing Uncertainty, Singaporeans, Malaysians and Indians Remain Most Positive About Their Country’s Direction
The latest Ipsos What Worries the World July 2026 survey reveals a striking contrast between public sentiment in Asia and the rest of the world. Singapore (80%), Malaysia (70%) and India (69%) emerge as the three most optimistic nations globally, with citizens believing their country is moving in the right direction.
This confidence stands in sharp contrast to the global picture. Across 30 markets surveyed, just 38% of citizens, on average, believe their country is headed in the right direction, highlighting a widespread sense of uncertainty about the future.
Notably, only 6 of the 30 markets record a majority positive outlook on the direction of their country. Alongside Singapore, Malaysia and India, the other markets where optimism outweighs pessimism are Hungary, Thailand and South Korea.
The findings underscore a growing divergence in public sentiment worldwide. While many countries grapple with economic pressures, political uncertainty and social challenges, citizens in Singapore, Malaysia and India continue to express comparatively stronger confidence in their nation’s trajectory. The results suggest that perceptions of progress, stability and opportunity are shaping a more positive national outlook in these markets.
For most of the world, however, the mood remains cautious. Most citizens across the remaining markets believe their country is on the wrong track, reflecting persistent concerns about the economic, political and social issues influencing everyday life.
Interestingly, Economic Confidence remains high in India, with 3 in 4 citizens (76%) saying the economy is in good shape.
Commenting on the findings of the report, Suresh Ramalingam, CEO, Ipsos India stated, "India's position among the world's most optimistic countries is rooted in a broad sense of stability and resilience. Despite a period marked by global economic volatility, geopolitical tensions and supply-chain disruptions, India has navigated these challenges with confidence, ensuring limited disruption to the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. As food inflation eases and economic fundamentals remain strong, Indians appear increasingly confident that the country is well-positioned to sustain its progress and capitalize on future opportunities."
What Worries Indians
Unemployment continues to rank as the nation's top concern, reinforcing the central role of job creation in translating economic growth into broad-based prosperity. Encouragingly, inflation has fallen down the list of public worries, suggesting that easing price pressures are being felt by citizens. Beyond economic concerns, corruption and education feature prominently, indicating that Indians are looking not only for growth, but also for improvements in governance, opportunity and social mobility.
"The findings reveal an interesting duality in public sentiment. While Indians are among the most optimistic globally about the direction of the country and the state of the economy, they remain clear-eyed about the challenges that need attention. The continued prominence of unemployment as the country's top concern highlights the expectation that economic growth must translate into meaningful job opportunities. At the same time, the decline in inflation as a major worry suggests that citizens are feeling greater stability in their day-to-day lives. The prominence of corruption and education among the top concerns also points to a broader aspiration: Indians are seeking not just economic progress, but inclusive development built on good governance, transparency and access to opportunity," added Ramalingam.
Methodology
These are the results of a 30-country survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform, between June 19th 2026 and July 3rd 2026. For this survey, Ipsos interviewed a total of 500 adults aged 18 years and older in India, 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States (US), 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 in all other countries.
The sample consists of approximately 1,000 individuals each in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and the US, and 500 individuals each in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, and Türkiye. Samples in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the US can be considered representative of their general adult populations under the age of 75. Samples in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Türkiye are more urban, more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population. The survey results for these countries should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of their population.
The data is weighted so that the composition of each country’s sample best reflects the demographic profile of the adult population according to the most recent census data. “The Global Country Average” reflects the average result for all the countries and markets in which the survey was conducted. It has not been adjusted to the population size of each country or market and is not intended to suggest a total result.
When percentages do not sum up to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 percentage point more/less than the actual result, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of “don't know” or not stated responses.
The precision of Ipsos online polls is calculated using a credibility interval with a poll where N=1,000 being accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of where N=500 being accurate to +/- 5.0 percentage points. For more information on Ipsos' use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.
