As the eight years of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidency draw to a close, Brazilians offer largely positive assessments of where their country stands.  At a time when global publics are mostly glum about the way things are going in their countries, half of Brazilians say they are satisfied with national conditions, and 62% say their nation’s economy is in good shape.  Of the 21 other publics included in the 2010 Pew Global Attitudes survey, only the Chinese are more upbeat about their country’s overall direction and economic conditions.

A solid majority of Brazilians believe the outgoing president and the national government are having a good influence on the country, and most give the government good ratings for its handling of the economy.  Moreover, the Bolsa Família program, Lula’s signature initiative, which provides cash incentives to the country’s poorest families for keeping their children in school and getting them vaccinated, is popular with Brazilians among all demographic groups.

Lula is also praised for his performance on the world stage.  Nearly eight-in-ten Brazilians express confidence in their president to do the right thing in world affairs, and about three-quarters say Brazil already is (24%) or will eventually be (53%) one of the most powerful nations in the world.  A large majority believes their country is well-liked around the globe.

Yet, despite the generally positive national mood, Brazilians say their country faces some major challenges.  In particular, more than eight-in-ten say that illegal drugs and crime are very serious problems in Brazil; more than half say there are areas near their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night.  More than six-in-ten Brazilians also describe corrupt political leaders, social inequality and pollution as major problems.

These are the latest findings from a spring 2010 survey of Brazil by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project.  Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,000 adults in Brazil between April 10 and May 6, 2010.  The sample is representative of the country’s adult population, and the margin of sampling error for the results is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.  (Brazil was surveyed as part of the Spring 2010 Pew Global Attitudes Survey, which included 22 nations.  For more findings from this survey, see “Obama More Popular Abroad Than at Home, Global Image of U.S. Continues to Benefit,” released June 17, 2010.)

Positive Views of U.S. and China Too

Brazilians offer favorable opinions of the U.S. and China, their country’s two biggest trading partners, although America’s image is somewhat more positive.  About six-in-ten (62%) give the U.S. a favorable rating; 29% have an unfavorable opinion.  Looking at the other Latin American nations in the survey, 56% of Mexicans offer a favorable opinion, while 35% have a negative view of their

neighbor to the north.  And in Argentina, about the same number rate the U.S. favorably (42%) as rate it unfavorably (41%).

U.S. President Barack Obama also receives higher marks in Brazil than in Argentina and Mexico; 56% of Brazilians have confidence in the American president to do the right thing in world affairs, compared with 49% of Argentines and 43% of Mexicans.

Views of China are also more positive in Brazil.  While a slim majority of Brazilians (52%) give China high marks, fewer than half in Argentina (45%) and Mexico (39%) offer favorable opinions of the Asian superpower.

When asked whether they consider the U.S. and China partners or enemies of their country, most Brazilians (56%) say the U.S. is a partner, while 45% say the same about China.  About one-in-ten see each of these countries as an enemy, while many say the U.S. and China are neither partners nor enemies of Brazil.

Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program

While Brazilians express confidence in Lula’s overall approach to world affairs, they largely disagree with him on how to handle Iran and its nuclear weapons program.  The president has opposed additional international economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.  Yet, of the 85% of Brazilians who oppose Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, nearly two-thirds approve of tighter sanctions to try to prevent it from developing such weapons; 31% oppose tougher economic sanctions against Iran.¹ Majorities of those who oppose a nuclear-armed Tehran in 18 of the other 21 countries surveyed also endorse such a measure.

In addition, most (54%) Brazilians who do not want to see a nuclear-armed Iran are willing to consider the use of military force to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons; a third say avoiding a military conflict with Iran, even if it means it may develop these weapons, should be the priority.

Overall, Brazilian views of Iran are among the most negative of the 22 publics included in the 2010 Pew Global Attitudes survey.  About two-thirds (65%) express unfavorable opinions of Iran; a similar percentage of Americans (67%) and Egyptians (66%) offer similarly negative views, as do more than seven-in-ten in Spain, Japan, France and Germany.

Also of Note

• More than six-in-ten Brazilians say the media, foreign companies, religious leaders and the military are having a good influence on the way things are going in their country; a slim, 53% majority give the police similarly good ratings.
• Many Brazilians say gender inequalities persist in their country, and seven-in-ten say it would be a good thing for a woman to be elected president, putting aside their opinions about presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff.
• Of the 22 publics surveyed, Brazilians are among the most supportive of the free market approach; 75% agree that people are better off in a market economy.  Only in China, Nigeria, India and South Korea is this view more prevalent.
• Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez receives the most negative ratings of five international leaders tested; just 13% have at least some confidence in him, while seven-in-ten say they have little or no confidence in the Venezuelan leader.  About half also lack confidence in Russian President Dmitri Medvedev.
• Brazilians express more concern about global climate change than any public surveyed; 85% say it is a very serious problem. Moreover, eight-in-ten say protecting the environment should be given priority, even if it results in slower economic growth and loss of jobs.

An overwhelming majority of Brazilians gives the government good ratings for the way it is handling the economy, and many expect economic conditions to improve over the next year. Yet, a large percentage of those who say the country’s current economic situation is bad blames the government primarily; many also say Brazilians themselves are responsible for the country’s economic troubles.

Mixed Views of National Conditions

When asked whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are going in their country, Brazilians are nearly evenly split: 50% offer a positive assessment and 49% offer a negative view of their country’s direction.  Still, the only nation surveyed where views of national conditions are more positive than in Brazil is China, where 87% are satisfied with the way things are going in their country.

Brazilian men are considerably more likely than women in that country to say they are satisfied with the way things are going; 56% of men offer a positive assessment of national conditions, compared with 43% of women.

Satisfaction with national conditions is also more widespread among the less educated.  Nearly six-in-ten (58%) of those with no more than a primary education are happy with the way things are going in the country.  In contrast, 45% of those with at least some secondary education and 49% of those with some college or more offer positive assessments of national conditions.

Respondents in rural areas are much happier with the state of the nation than are those in urban areas.  A majority (62%) in rural parts of the country say they are satisfied with the way things are going, while 36% say they are dissatisfied.  Those in urban areas are nearly evenly split; 48% are satisfied and 50% are dissatisfied with national conditions.

Regionally, those in the Northeast are especially inclined to express satisfaction with the way things are going in Brazil; about six-in-ten (61%) say they are happy with national conditions while 36% say they are not.  Views are more mixed in the other regions of the country.  For example, 45% in the Southeast say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their country, while 53% say they are dissatisfied.

National Economy Gets Good Ratings

Of the 22 publics surveyed, Brazilians offer the second-most positive evaluations of economic conditions in their country.  A solid majority (62%) describes the current economic situation in Brazil as very or somewhat good, while just 36% say the economy is bad.  China, where 91% rate their country’s economy as good, is the only country where views are more positive than those of Brazilians.  Majorities in 17 of the 22 nations surveyed say their countries’ economies are in bad shape.

Men and those with at least some college education give Brazil’s economy particularly high marks.  While nearly seven-in-ten (69%) men say economic conditions are good, a narrower majority of women (56%) share this view.  Among respondents who have attended college, 70% give the economy a positive rating, compared with 62% of those with some secondary education and 59% of those with a primary education or less.

Ratings of economic conditions do not vary significantly across income or age groups.² Respondents in all regions also offer similar evaluations of Brazil’s economy, as do those in urban and rural areas.

Government’s Handling of the Economy

Of those who think the economy is in bad shape, an overwhelming majority (80%) blames the government for their country’s economic problems. More than half (55%) say Brazilians themselves are among the top culprits, while 26% blame banks and other financial institutions for Brazil’s economic troubles.  Few name the U.S. (5%) or the European Union (2%).

Still, a solid majority of Brazilians (76%) give their government a good rating for its handling of the economy; just 23% say the government is doing a bad job.  This view is prevalent across demographic groups and regions.

Even among those who say the economy is in bad shape, more give the government a good rating (51%) for its handling of the economy than give it a bad rating (46%).  And those who blame the government for the country’s economic troubles are divided – 49% say the government is doing a good job on the economy and 50% say it is doing a bad job.

Most Say Economy Will Improve

Brazilians are optimistic about their short-term economic future.  Three-quarters say they expect their country’s economic situation to improve over the next year.  Just 4% say the economy will worsen, while 17% expect it to remain the same.

Among those who rate the current economic situation positively, 80% expect it to be even better in the next year, while 16% expect it to remain the same; just 2% say things will get worse.  Optimism is less widespread among those who say the economy is currently in bad shape; still, 68% in that group expect economic conditions to improve in the next year, while 21% say things will remain the same and 9% think the economy will worsen.

Views of Trade and Globalization

An overwhelming majority of Brazilians (87%) say that growing trade and business ties between Brazil and other countries is a good thing. This view is widespread across demographic groups and regions, but those with some college education and the more affluent, as well as those in urban areas, are somewhat more likely than the less educated, those with lower incomes, and those in rural parts of the country to say growing trade is good for Brazil.

Brazilians also support the free market approach.  Three-quarters agree that most people are better off in a market economy, even though some are rich and some are poor; 21% disagree with this view.  By comparison, fewer than half in the other two Latin American countries surveyed endorse free markets; 44% in Mexico and 40% in Argentina agree that most people are better off in a market economy.

Drugs, Crime Top Concerns

More than eight-in-ten Brazilians say illegal drugs (85%) and crime (83%) are very big problems in their country.  Large percentages also see corrupt politicians (79%) and social inequality (66%) as very big problems, while somewhat narrower majorities express similar concern about pollution (62%), the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases (58%) and economic issues (53%). Relatively few (27%) say access to drinking water is a major problem in Brazil.

For the most part, views of national problems vary little, if at all, across demographic groups.  However, those in rural areas are often more likely than those in urban areas to characterize Brazil’s challenges as major.  For example, 75% of respondents in rural parts of the country describe the spread of infectious diseases as a very big problem, compared with 56% of those in urban areas.  And while about three-quarters (74%) in rural areas say pollution is a major problem, 60% in urban areas share this opinion.

Blacks are more likely than whites and those who are of mixed race to see social inequality as a major challenge.  Nearly eight-in-ten (77%) blacks describe social inequality as a very big problem in Brazil; 68% of those of mixed race and 63% of whites do so.  Brazilians across income and educational groups offer similar views about the extent to which social inequality is a problem in their country.

Fear of Crime

More than half of Brazilians (55%) say there are areas within a kilometer of their home where they would be afraid to walk alone at night; 45% say they feel safe walking alone in their neighborhood. Women, those over 50 and those who live in urban areas are especially likely to feel unsafe.

About two-thirds (66%) of women say there are areas near their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night, compared with 43% of men who say that is the case.

Among those 50 and older, 65% say there are areas within a kilometer of their homes where they would be afraid to walk alone at night. By contrast, half of those ages 30 to 49 and about the same share of those younger than 30 (52%) feel unsafe in their neighborhoods.

And while solid majorities of urban and rural dwellers describe crime as a very big problem in Brazil (83% and 87%, respectively), those who live in urban areas are more likely to feel personally unsafe.  More than half (56%) of respondents who live in urban areas say there are parts of their neighborhood where they would be afraid to walk alone at night; 44% of those in rural areas say that is the case.

Widespread Dissatisfaction

Fully 84% of Pakistanis are dissatisfied with the way things are going in their country, down just slightly from 89% last year. Over the last five years, Pakistani public opinion has shifted dramatically on this question – in 2005, almost six-in-ten (57%) Pakistanis were satisfied with national conditions, while just 39% were dissatisfied.

Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) Pakistanis view their current national economic situation as bad, with 58% saying very bad. The situation was quite similar last year, when 74% said economic conditions were bad, including 50% who said conditions were very bad. The last time more Pakistanis viewed their national economic situation as good (59%) than bad (32%) was in 2007.

Supporters of the ruling PPP (75%) are as likely as opposition PML-N supporters (79%) to view their country’s economic situation as bad.

Pakistanis are pessimistic about their short-term economic future. Half say that they expect their national economic situation to worsen a little or a lot over the next 12 months. One-in-five (20%) expect national conditions to remain the same, while only 19% expect such conditions to improve a lot or a little.

One year ago, fewer Pakistanis (35%) were pessimistic about their short-term economic future, and pessimism was even less widespread in 2008; at that time, only 16% felt economic conditions would worsen in the upcoming year.

Political party affiliation makes no difference in views on the economy in the short-term; about half of PML-N (46%) and PPP (51%) self-identifiers say the economic situation will worsen in the next 12 months.

Terrorism, Crime Top Concerns

Most Pakistanis see their country facing a long list of serious problems. In particular, terrorism, lack of jobs and crime stand out as issues of concern: about nine-in-ten consider terrorism (91%), lack of jobs (91%) and crime (88%) to be very big problems.

Corruption in the political arena also continues to be regarded as a major challenge: Currently, 74% say corrupt political leaders are a very big problem. Last year, a similar share (71%) viewed corruption as a very big problem, while smaller majorities did so in 2007 (64%) and 2002 (58%).

About seven-in-ten say illegal drugs (73%), the situation in Kashmir (71%), and access to drinking water (71%) are very big problems (for more on Kashmir, see chapter 4). More than six-in-ten (63%) say pollution is a very big problem, while about half hold the same view on the situation in Afghanistan (51%) and people leaving the country for jobs (47%).

More among supporters of the opposition PML-N party than among the ruling PPP characterize Pakistan’s challenges as major. For example, more Pakistanis affiliated with the opposition PML-N consider corrupt political leaders to be a very big problem than do supporters of the ruling PPP (80% vs. 67%). Similar differences exist on views of illegal drugs, pollution, the situation in Afghanistan and people leaving for jobs in other countries.

Regional differences in views on Pakistani problems are consistent with the political party divide on these issues. For example, more Pakistanis living in Punjab – a stronghold of support for the PML-N – consider illegal drugs (80%) to be a very big problem than do those living in Sindh (65%) – a PPP support base. This pattern is also evident in views of corrupt political leaders, pollution, the situation in Afghanistan and people leaving for jobs in other countries.

Facing a variety of national problems – crime, drugs, corruption, a troubled economy – Mexicans overwhelmingly are dissatisfied with the direction of their country. With drug-related violence affecting much of Mexico, large majorities describe crime (81%) and illegal drugs (73%) as very big problems, and Mexicans overwhelmingly endorse President Felipe Calderón’s tough stance against drug traffickers.

Most believe life is better in the United States. Close to six-in-ten (57%) say that people who move from Mexico enjoy a better life in the U.S., up from 51% in 2007. And the vast majority of those who are in regular contact with friends and relatives living in the U.S. say those friends and relatives have largely achieved their goals.

A substantial minority of Mexicans say that if they had the means and opportunity to go live in the U.S. they would do so, and more than half of those who would migrate if they had the chance say they would do so without authorization.

Nonetheless, immigration data show a drop-off in recent years in the annual flow of Mexican immigrants to the U.S.¹ This decline may be tied in part to the economic downturn in the U.S., which has resulted in fewer jobs for immigrants. Four-in-ten Mexicans say they know someone who left for the U.S. but returned because they could not find a job, although even more (47%) report knowing someone who returned because they were turned back by the border patrol.

And some may see expanding job opportunities in the Mexican economy. Although 69% say the current economy is bad, most are upbeat about the future: 61% expect the national economy to improve over the next 12 months, while only 14% think it will get worse.

The close ties between people in the U.S. and Mexico are reflected in the survey’s findings – 39% of Mexicans have friends or relatives in the U.S. Nearly one-in-five (18%) Mexicans say they receive money from relatives living in another country, although this represents a slight decline from 2007, when 23% said they received money from outside.

These are the latest findings from the 2009 survey of Mexico by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1,000 adults in Mexico between May 26 and June 2, 2009. The sample is representative of the country’s adult population, and the margin of sampling error for the results is plus or minus three percentage points.² The Mexico poll is part of a broader survey of 25 publics conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project (Mexico was surveyed as part of the Spring 2009 Pew Global Attitudes Survey, which included 24 nations and the Palestinian territories. For more findings from this survey, see Confidence in Obama Lifts U.S. Image around the World; Most Muslim Publics Not So Easily Moved, released July 23, 2009).

Support for Tough Stance Against Drug Gangs

There is a widespread concern about illegal drugs in Mexico, and broad support for using force to combat the violent drug gangs plaguing much of the nation. With more than 10,000 deaths from drug-related violence since President Calderón took office in December 2006, Mexicans clearly see this issue as one of the main challenges facing their country: 95% rate it a big problem.

Calderón has responded to the drug traffickers with unprecedented force, deploying the army to major cities to combat the gangs. As the survey illustrates, the public overwhelmingly backs this strategy: 83% support using the Mexican army to fight drug traffickers, while just 12% oppose the idea.

Moreover, most Mexicans believe the efforts are effective – 66% say the army is making progress against the traffickers, while only 15% think it is losing ground. The popularity of the tough stance against drug gangs seems to be bolstering support for Calderón. Roughly two-thirds (68%) have a favorable opinion of the president, while only 29% express an unfavorable view.

There is also considerable support for U.S. assistance in fighting the drug war. Almost eight-in-ten want the U.S. to train Mexican police and military personnel, and 63% want the U.S. to send money and weapons to the Mexican police and military. However, there is little appetite for having American troops on Mexican soil – only 30% want U.S. forces deployed to Mexico to fight drug traffickers.

The survey makes clear the extent to which Mexicans want law and order in their country. A majority (56%) believe that, right now, law and order should be a more important priority for the government than protecting personal freedoms. Only 18% believe individual freedoms should be the bigger priority, while about one-quarter (24%) volunteer that both are equally important.

The survey also reveals serious differences in how some of the main institutions involved in the drug war are perceived. Mexicans largely approve of the job the military is doing – 77% say it is having a good impact on the country. On the other hand, the court system (37% say it is having a good impact) and the police (35%) receive generally poor reviews.

U.S. Image Improves

The Pew Global Attitudes survey found that America’s overall image improved significantly across much of the world over the last year, and Mexico is no exception. While slightly less than half (47%) expressed a positive opinion of the U.S. in 2008, 69% do so now. Views of the American people also have become more positive since 2008.

And in a pattern found throughout much of the world, President Barack Obama receives considerably more favorable reviews than his predecessor, George W. Bush. Interestingly, however, Mexico is one of the few countries included in the survey where the U.S. as a country receives higher marks than President Obama or the American people.

Overall, Mexicans believe they benefit from the deep economic ties between the U.S. and their country – about three-in-four (76%) say that these ties are good for Mexico. Nonetheless, many see America’s economic crisis spilling across the border, and most say that, right now, the U.S. is having a negative economic impact on Mexico.

Government Gets Good Marks for Handling Swine Flu

When the survey was conducted in late May and early June, nearly all of those surveyed (93%) had heard of the swine flu (also known as the H1N1 virus). And most of those who had heard of it were worried that they or someone in their family could be exposed to the illness. Even so, despite the fact that the first outbreak of the 2009 swine flu began in Mexico, concern about the disease was lower among Mexicans than among several other publics included in the spring 2009 survey – in eight of the 25 publics, the level of concern about swine flu was higher than in Mexico.

The Mexican government received high marks for its handling of the swine flu outbreak. Roughly three-in-four (76%) of those who had heard about the virus said the government was doing a good job of dealing with it. Support for the government’s handling of the crisis was widespread, both among those who identify with President Calderón’s National Action Party (PAN) (83% approve) and those who identify with the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) (77%).

Also of Note

• The economic downturn has not led to a decrease in support for trade. In fact, the share of the public who believes growing trade and business ties between nations are good for Mexico has increased, rising from 69% in 2008 to 79% in 2009.
• Mexicans are less enthusiastic about the free market than many others around the world. Just 52% say people are generally better off in a free market system, even though this means some may be rich while others are poor; about four-in-ten (41%) disagree with this point of view. Only four of the 25 publics in the survey express less enthusiasm for the free market.
• Almost universally, political corruption is considered a problem. Fully 94% of those surveyed say corrupt political leaders are a big problem, and 68% say they are a very big problem.
• Despite seeing a host of problems afflicting the country, the vast majority of Mexicans (87%) say they are very or somewhat satisfied with their own lives.
• The economic downturn is having an impact on the lives of Mexicans – 54% describe their personal economic situation as good, down six percentage points from last year.
• Most Mexicans think their country has a poor image abroad – 61% say Mexico is poorly regarded by people around the world.

The Kaiser/Pew Global Health Survey, a unique new partnership between the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Pew Global Attitudes Project, examines how people around the world perceive and prioritize health in their countries and gauge the efforts of donor nations. As the report details, there is great variation in how health figures into people’s lives, and to what extent it is viewed as a problem for governments to address. Key findings from the 47-country survey include:

• Public health priorities in low and middle income countries. Preventing and treating HIV/AIDS is the top-rated health priority in the countries surveyed in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Fighting hunger and malnutrition is the top priority among countries surveyed in Latin America and the Middle East. And access to health care is seen as the top priority in Central/Eastern Europe. Almost all low and middle income countries surveyed rate each health issue quite high. Majorities in 23 of 34 low and middle income countries say every one of the nine health issues asked about should be “one of the most important” for their government to address.
• HIV/AIDS. Among “high prevalence countries” (defined here as those with an estimated HIV prevalence of 5% or more) and “next wave countries” (considered to be at earlier, but emerging, stages of their epidemics with large populations potentially at risk for HIV infection), large majorities say that HIV is a bigger problem now than it was five years ago, but there is also a strong sense of progress in terms of HIV prevention and treatment in most countries.
• Foreign aid resonates with recipients. Majorities in nearly every country surveyed say wealthier countries are not doing enough to help poorer nations with problems such as economic development, reducing poverty, and improving health. But among countries surveyed that were major recipients of development aid, people were much more likely to say that wealthy nations are “doing enough” to help poorer nations. Among the countries most likely to say wealthy nations are doing enough are Indonesia and sub-Saharan African nations, which have been the focus of tsunami relief and efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, respectively. In addition, the survey shows substantial support among wealthier nations to do more to help poorer nations.

The planet is a happier place these days, at least in many parts of the world where incomes are low and life is tough … but economies are improving. In particular, as economic growth has surged in much of Latin America, East Europe and Asia over the past five years, people are expressing greater satisfaction with their personal lives, family incomes and national conditions. The picture is considerably different in most advanced nations, where per capita GDP gains have been less robust and citizen satisfaction has changed little since 2002.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project’s 47-nation survey finds that measures of personal and economic satisfaction remain modest in the developing world when compared with measures for advanced nations, but this gap has narrowed. The increasing contentment in developing nations is clearly correlated with sizable increases in per capita gross domestic product that, in most cases, far outpaced the rate of growth prior to 2002.¹

Publics in Latin America and Eastern Europe — where per capita GDP has risen markedly in recent years — rate their lives and national conditions far more favorably than they did in Pew’s 2002 wave of interviewing. The same is true in China and India, both of which have experienced sizable gains in real income, and where publics are substantially happier today. The pattern is less pronounced, however, elsewhere in Asia. And in sub-Saharan Africa, where per capita GDP has increased in many nations, overall satisfaction measures are up modestly, at best.

In contrast, levels of personal contentment and satisfaction with annual incomes have been much more stable in North America, Western Europe and Japan, where income growth has been less impressive. Also, unlike in the developing world, satisfaction with national conditions is flat or has declined in most advanced nations where trends are available.

In addition to examining how people around the world view their own lives, national conditions, and national and international institutions, the survey also provides a detailed look at specific trends within different regions of the world. Most notably, the survey finds large and growing numbers of Muslims in the Middle East and elsewhere rejecting Islamic extremism.

The percentage of Muslims saying that suicide bombing is justified in the defense of Islam has declined dramatically over the past five years in five of eight countries where trends are available. In Lebanon, for example, just 34% of Muslims say suicide bombings in the defense of Islam are often or sometimes justified; in 2002, 74% expressed this view. However, Palestinians stand out for their broad acceptance of suicide bombing. Seven-in-ten-Palestinians say this tactic is at least sometimes justified.

The regional analyses also shed light on other major issues. For instance, there is broad support for free-market economic policies across Latin America, despite the election in the past decade of leftist leaders such as Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. In Africa, poverty and widespread deprivation have not diminished optimism about the future. And Muslim publics, particularly those in closest proximity to Iraq, express significant concern that the Sunni-Shia divide driving violence in that country is turning into a broader problem worldwide.

Globally, Pew’s 47-nation survey shows a clear linkage between real economic growth and views of national conditions. An analysis of changes between 2002 and 2007 finds a correlation between the percentage growth in per capita GDP and the share of a nation’s citizens who are satisfied with the way things are going in their country, and the proportion giving positive overall economic ratings.

GDP growth also is tied to rising levels of personal satisfaction. The number of people who report making personal progress in their lives is up substantially from 2002 in most countries with rapidly growing economies, and is flat or down in many countries where per capita GDP has been relatively stagnant. The same is generally true with measures of overall quality of life and satisfaction with household income. But changes in GDP are not related to all aspects of people’s lives. Other measures of personal contentment, such as job satisfaction or happiness with family life, show no correlation with economic growth. (Commentary on the relationship between economic growth and measures of personal contentment, by Bruce Stokes, international economics columnist for the National Journal.)

In spite of the economic gains across a broad swath of developing and emerging economies, citizens of rich countries remain far happier and more satisfied than those in poorer nations. In addition, large percentages in many developing countries — even in some where the gains in contentment have been the greatest — report they have not been able to afford food, clothing, and medical care over the past 12 months.

Among the populations of the seven Latin American nations surveyed, no fewer than a quarter (in Argentina) and as many as six-in-ten (in Bolivia and Peru) say there have been times in the past year when they have been unable to afford food. These figures are comparable in the 10 countries surveyed in Africa; in developing countries throughout Asia and the Middle East; as well as in most of the East European nations surveyed. This compares with 16% in the United States, and even fewer in Canada, Japan, and most of Western Europe.

Rising per capita GDP appears to have had only a modest impact in Africa compared with other parts of the developing world. In absolute terms, Africans remain relatively unhappy with their lives and living conditions. This is the case even in countries like Nigeria, where per capita GDP has increased by 26% over the past five years. Only about a third of Nigerians express a high level of satisfaction with their lives, which is not significantly different from 2002.

Yet as was the case in previous Global Attitudes surveys, more people in Africa than in the other regions surveyed express the view that their lives will be better five years from now. In addition, majorities in most African nations say that when children in their countries grow up they will be better off than people are today. The belief that life will be better for the next generation also is widespread in other poor and emerging countries — notably, 86% of Chinese respondents in the Pew survey look ahead to a better life for their country’s children.

Opinions about the prospects for the next generation are much more negative in many advanced countries. Fully 80% of the French say that when their country’s children grow up, they will be worse off than people are today. Smaller but substantial majorities in Germany, Japan, Italy, Great Britain, the United States and Canada also are pessimists regarding the next generation’s overall prospects.

While the new poll finds dramatic changes in many countries in how people view their lives and financial well-being, evaluations of work and family life have remained more or less unchanged. As in 2002, more people express satisfaction with their family lives than with their jobs or incomes. And as was the case five years ago, satisfaction with family life continues to be greater in advanced nations — especially in North America — than in most developing countries.

Dissatisfaction with family life is relatively high in several African countries, especially Tanzania and Uganda. In both countries, about as many people say they are dissatisfied with the family life as say they are satisfied — the only countries surveyed where this is the case.

For the most part, job satisfaction continues to be greater than satisfaction with family income, even though the latter has risen over the past five years. Among advanced nations, worker satisfaction is greatest in Sweden, the United States and Canada; more than four-in-ten in these countries say they are very satisfied with their jobs.

Among developing nations, workers in Kuwait and India voice the most contentment with their jobs. Job satisfaction is generally low in the African countries surveyed. In addition, 66% of Jordanian workers say they are dissatisfied with their jobs, the highest of any public surveyed.

Views of National Conditions, Governments

Trends in opinions about the course of one’s country are as closely correlated with changing economic fortunes as are people’s views of their own lives. In Latin America, citizens in Argentina, Venezuela and Bolivia express far greater satisfaction with national conditions than they did five years ago, when much of the region was mired in a severe financial crisis. And in Argentina, Venezuela and Peru, robust economic growth has been accompanied by a sharp rise in positive views of national governments.

In Western Europe, the publics in Sweden and Spain express broad satisfaction with national conditions, as well as with their governments and current leaders. In contrast, people in France and Italy, which have experienced little growth since 2002, are critical of their nation’s course and their governments. In Eastern Europe, the publics in Russia and Slovakia — where per capita GDP has shown impressive gains — are happier with the course of their country and express more satisfaction with national leaders than they did five years ago.

Among surveyed countries, China has achieved by far the greatest gains in per capita income; per capita GDP has increased 58% since 2002. The Chinese also express much more satisfaction with national conditions than they did in 2002 (83% now vs. 48% then). The Chinese also give near universal support for the national government — fully 89% say the national government has a very good or somewhat good influence on the way things are going in the country.²

The Japanese are more positive about their country’s government and leadership than in 2002, but they continue to be largely critical of their country’s course. In India, by contrast, more people are satisfied with the state of their country, though evaluations of the government and national leadership have remained fairly stable.

Turkey and Jordan have experienced strong economic growth since 2002; on balance, more people in these countries express positive views of their national governments than negative opinions. The Palestinians and Lebanese almost universally deplore the way things are going — just 5% of Palestinians and 6% of Lebanese express satisfaction with conditions — but they express a fair degree of support for their governments and leaders.

Africans tend to express dissatisfaction with national conditions but endorse their national governments. Nigerians are the exception in expressing divided opinions of their government and new leader, despite strong economic trends over the past five years.

While economic growth is linked with more favorable views of one’s national government, the survey points to several important exceptions to this pattern. For example, Great Britain and the United States have experienced fairly strong economic growth since 2002 when compared with other advanced countries, yet in both countries positive views of the government have declined significantly. And in the Czech Republic, the percent saying that the government is having a good influence on national conditions has fallen from 57% in 2002 to 36% in the new survey, despite robust growth in that country.

Dwindling Muslim Support for Terrorism

Even as many people around the world express more positive views of their lives and countries than they did five years ago, opinions about regional issues and concerns are a mix of good and bad news.

Among the most striking trends in predominantly Muslim nations is the continuing decline in the number saying that suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilians are justifiable in the defense of Islam. In Lebanon, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, the proportion of Muslims who view suicide bombing and other attacks against civilians as being often or sometimes justified has declined by half or more over the past five years.

Wide majorities say such attacks are, at most, rarely acceptable. However, this is decidedly not the case in the Palestinian territories. Fully 70% of Palestinians believe that suicide bombings against civilians can be often or sometimes justified, a position starkly at odds with Muslims in other Middle Eastern, Asian, and African nations.

The decreasing acceptance of extremism among Muslims also is reflected in declining support for Osama bin Laden. Since 2003, Muslim confidence in bin Laden to do the right thing in world affairs has fallen; in Jordan, just 20% express a lot or some confidence in bin Laden, down from 56% four years ago. Yet confidence in bin Laden in the Palestinian territories, while lower than it was in 2003, remains relatively high (57%).

Opinion about Hezbollah and Hamas varies among Muslim publics. Views of both groups are favorable among most predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East and Asia. And Palestinians have strongly positive opinions of both militant groups. But majorities in Turkey have negative impressions of both Hezbollah and Hamas.

The survey also finds that, amid continuing sectarian strife in Iraq, there is broad concern among the Muslim publics surveyed that tensions between Sunnis and Shia are not limited to that country. Nearly nine-in-ten Lebanese (88%), and solid majorities in Kuwait (73%) and Pakistan (67%), say Sunni-Shia tensions are a growing problem for the Muslim world, and are not limited to Iraq.

Africa: Bleak Present, Brighter Future

Africa remains a continent of crushing poverty, widespread deprivation — and substantial, if not universal, optimism. Majorities in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania say there have been times in the past year they have been unable to afford food. Even in South Africa, widely viewed as having Africa’s most advanced economy, 49% say they have gone without food in the past year for lack of money. Moreover, relatively large numbers throughout Africa say they have lacked money for other basic necessities — health care and clothing.

The African publics surveyed tend to express low levels of personal satisfaction, particularly when compared with people in other regions. In no African country do as many as four-in-ten rate their current lives as seven or higher on a scale of zero to 10. However, majorities in nine of 10 African countries surveyed say they believe their lives will be better five years from now than they are today.

The U.S. image is much stronger in Africa than in other regions of the world. This is reflected in the fact that the United States tops the list of dependable allies in eight of 10 African countries surveyed. Yet the U.S. is widely seen as making, at most, a minor effort to address the humanitarian crisis in the Darfur region of Sudan. Most Africans say the United Nations or the African Union is doing the most to stop the violence in Darfur.

The survey also finds that, despite overwhelming concern about the spread of AIDS and other infectious diseases throughout Africa, fewer than 30% in every country surveyed say they have taken an HIV test. In South Africa, where an estimated 5.5 million people are infected with HIV according to UNAIDS data, just 20% say they have been tested for the virus. However, majorities in South Africa and the other African countries surveyed (except for Mali) say they would be willing to take an HIV test.

A series of in-depth questions asked in Africa — including measures of the state of democracy in African countries and opinions about international media coverage of the region — are the result of a partnership between the Pew Global Attitudes Project and The New York Times. In addition, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation generously provided funding for the surveying in Africa, and in developing nations in other parts of the world.

Latin America: More Favorable Toward Free Markets

Latin America’s improved economic climate is seen in increasingly positive impressions of national conditions and governments. As might be expected, publics in Latin America also are much more upbeat about their nations’ economies than they were five years ago.

In 2002, shortly after the onset of a financial crisis that caused Argentina to default and cost many people their life savings, virtually no Argentines gave the economy a positive rating (1%); today, 45% see the economy as very good or somewhat good. A similar, though less dramatic, pattern is seen in other countries in the region: in Bolivia, positive views of the economy have more than tripled (from 18% to 58%); in Peru they have nearly tripled; and in Venezuela and Brazil positive impressions of the economy have doubled or more. In Mexico, where positive views of the economy were highest in 2002 (at 31%), 51% now say the economy is at least somewhat good.

Left-leaning heads of state have been elected in several Latin American countries over the past decade. However, the new survey finds Latin American respondents generally believe that people are better off in a free market economy, even though some people are rich and some are poor. Many respondents in the poll also expressed support for a strong government social safety net to help people who cannot help themselves.

Global Publics Divided about Their Nation’s Allies

The polling also underscores the lack of international consensus about the world order reported in this year’s first Global Attitudes report. Notably, the United States is named about as often as a close ally as it is named the biggest threat by respondents in the 47-nation survey. No other single country or international institution was as frequently cited as a top ally or threat, including Iran. (For a more detailed analysis of opinions about the United States and other world powers, see “Global Unease with Major World Powers,” released June 27).

The United States is singled out as a close ally by people in many African nations and in Israel and Kuwait, where the United States remains popular. The publics of two of America’s closest allies, Great Britain and Canada, also regard the United States as their closest ally, despite their criticism of U.S. foreign policies.

By contrast, the publics in many predominately Muslim countries, Latin America, and China see the United States as their greatest potential threat. For example, two-thirds of Chinese (66%) and nearly as many in Turkey and Pakistan (64% each), name the United States as the country that poses the greatest threat to their own country in the future. Majorities in Venezuela (54%) and Argentina (52%) also view the United States as a potential threat.

Top National Problems

Crime, political corruption, drugs, the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, and pollution are mentioned most frequently as top national problems by the citizens of the 47 countries surveyed. But terrorism, the poor quality of drinking water, and religious/ethnic conflict also are high on the problems list. The global findings reveal wide variations in how people in different parts of the world size up the top national problems.

Compared with 2002, somewhat fewer people globally view most of the issues tested as very big national problems. The exceptions are concerns about the poor quality of drinking water and immigration, which remain about as widespread as five years ago.

Crime is clearly the dominant issue in Latin America and in many Asian and African countries. Roughly eight-in-ten citizens in several South American countries — including Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru — cite crime as a very big problem. Comparably high percentages of Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Malaysians rate crime as a very big problem. In Africa, worry about crime is near universal in South Africa and quite substantial in Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.

Strong concern about illegal drugs runs parallel to worry about crime in these regions of the world and countries. But the publics in several nations — including the United States and Great Britain — voice more worry about drugs than about crime.

Corrupt political leaders rate as a major concern in a diverse group of Middle Eastern countries — Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Israel. But the poll finds that worry about political corruption is most widespread in Nigeria and the Czech Republic.

The spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases is the dominant national concern throughout Africa. In addition, majorities in every Latin American country surveyed — including 79% in Peru — see the spread of infectious diseases as a very big problem.

Concerns about pollution are evident in all parts of the world. But mentions are most frequent in Italy, Peru and India, where about eight-in-ten or more view pollution as a very big problem for their countries. Regionally, worries about pollution are lowest in Africa. In addition, fewer Americans rate pollution as a top national problem than do people in other economically advanced countries.

Poor quality schools are of greater concern in Latin American and African countries than in other regions. By contrast, concerns over poor quality schools are very low in Malaysia — where just 11% see this as a very big national problem — and Sweden (13%). The Swedes express far less concern over most of the problems tested than do the other publics surveyed.

Italians voice the greatest concern about immigration of any of the publics in the 47-nation survey. In the developing world, South Africans and the Lebanese frequently cite immigration as a very big problem. By contrast, roughly half of the residents of Pakistan, Bolivia and Mexico say that emigration — people leaving their country for jobs elsewhere — is a very big problem. For Lebanon and Pakistan, in particular, both emigration and immigration rate as frequently cited national problems.

In Canada (71%), Spain (66%), and the United States (65%), more than six-in-ten respondents place themselves on the top rungs of the ladder (ratings of 7-10). Living in prosperous nations is no guarantee of satisfaction, however. Fewer than half in the relatively well-off countries of Italy (48%), Germany (48%), and Japan (43%) rate their lives high on this scale, though no more than 10% in any economically advanced nation rates their lives on the bottom rungs (ratings of 0-3).

However, living in a less wealthy nation does not preclude a high level of personal satisfaction. In particular, life satisfaction is quite high in several Latin America countries that have far lower per capita GDP levels than do most advanced nations. Indeed, Mexicans emerge as the most personally satisfied public in the survey – 76% rate their current life at least a seven. Brazilians (63%), Venezuelans (60%) and Argentines (59%) also tend to be satisfied with their lives, and fewer than 10% in any Latin American nation give their lives a low rating.

In other regions however, fewer people rate their lives near the top of the ladder. In Eastern Europe, personal satisfaction is highest in the Czech Republic – one of the region’s wealthier countries – although even here, only 42% place themselves in the high category; this is a lower percentage than in any of the six Western European nations surveyed. Meanwhile, Russians are roughly as likely to rate their lives in the low category (21%) as the high category (23%), and in Bulgaria, those at the bottom of the ladder (30%) outnumber those at the top (17%) by nearly two-to-one.

However, in Bulgaria, and throughout Eastern Europe, young people give their lives higher ratings than do older people. Bulgarians who are under age 30 have much more favorable views of their current lives (42% in the high category) than do 30-49 year-olds (17%), or those ages 50 and older (5%). Slovaks under age 30 are twice as likely as those ages 50 and older to be near the top of the ladder. Although generally less pronounced, the same pattern holds true throughout Western Europe as well.

In the Middle East, fewer than three-in-ten Lebanese, Jordanians, Turks, Egyptians and Moroccans rate their lives a seven or better. Among Palestinians, the picture is even bleaker – 29% are in the lowest group and 24% are in the high category. Israelis stand apart from the rest of the region, with 68% in the top group.

The lowest levels of life satisfaction are found in Africa. Just 10% of Tanzanians and 7% of Ugandans position themselves on the latter’s top rungs. Elsewhere the situation is less gloomy – 37% of Ethiopians are in the high category, along with 36% of South Africans and 35% of Nigerians. Overall, however, the African publics surveyed trail those in other regions.

Over the last five years, the percentage of people in the top category for life satisfaction has grown significantly in 18 of the 35 countries for which comparative data are available. Gains have been especially dramatic in Latin America. In fact, the three countries with the largest improvements are from this region: Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. Ukraine and India also have seen impressive gains, although in both countries the number of people at the top of the ladder is still less than a majority.

Meanwhile, a few countries have experienced declines. In Italy, which has experienced stagnant economic growth in recent years, satisfaction levels have edged down by five points since 2002. The largest drop in self-reported quality of life occurs among Indonesians; five years ago, 32% gave their lives a high rating, compared with 23% today.

Rising Satisfaction, Rising GDP

Some of the greatest gains in personal satisfaction have occurred in nations experiencing sharp increases in economic growth since 2002. In particular, Argentina, Ukraine, and China stand out for their remarkable economic growth, and concurrent shift in positive ratings on the ladder of life. At the same time, Canada, Bolivia and Italy are notable for their meager GDP growth and low gains (in Italy’s case, a slight decline) in personal satisfaction.

As with any linkage between broad economic statistics and personal evaluations, there are important exceptions. Russia has experienced 42% growth in per capita GDP over the past five years, but the share of Russians rating their lives in the top category has risen only slightly, from 18% in 2002 to 23% today. Similarly, despite substantial economic gains in percentage terms across much of sub-Saharan Africa, only in Ghana have quality of life evaluations improved substantially. At the other end of the spectrum, the greatest growth in personal contentment occurred in Brazil and Mexico, both of which experienced only modest GDP growth over the past five years.

The Link Between Wealth and Happiness

While rising GDPs have generally improved public ratings of people’s lives, substantial differences in personal satisfaction remain across different regions of the world. Generally, people in rich countries continue to express much more satisfaction with their lives than do people in poorer countries. (The correlation coefficient between a nation’s GDP and its personal contentment rating is +.72)

However, some publics express high levels of personal contentment, yet are relatively poor. This is quite common in Latin America. Other publics rate their lives not very highly, although they live in more affluent countries; the Japanese and South Koreans stand out in this regard.

Perceptions of Progress

In most of the countries surveyed, majorities or pluralities say they are at a higher spot on the ladder of life than they were five years ago. And this is true even in many countries where overall assessments of life remain relatively grim. For example, very few Kenyans or Ugandans place themselves in the top rungs on the ladder of life; nevertheless, 55% of Kenyans and 54% of Ugandans rate their current lives more highly than their lives of five years ago.

Perhaps reflecting their country’s tremendous economic growth in recent years, the Chinese are more likely than any other public to say they are better off today than they were five years ago. Roughly six-in-ten Chinese (62%) believe their lives have improved. When asked to make the same evaluation on Pew’s 2002 survey, 42% of Chinese felt they had made progress over the previous five years. (In both years, the samples in China were disproportionately urban.)

Many people in other regions also believe their lives have gotten better over the last five years. More than half of Kuwaitis (56%) say they have made progress. In Peru, 52% are at a higher spot on the ladder now, and in neighboring Argentina, 48% have made progress, a striking change from 2002, when only 19% of Argentines felt they had made progress over the prior five-year period. Nonetheless, as is the case in many countries, about as many Argentines say they have either lost ground (28%) or stayed the same (23%) over the past five years, as say they are better off.

And perceptions of progress are not prevalent everywhere. In Italy and Bulgaria, pluralities say they are at a lower spot on the ladder today than they were five years ago. And in the heart of the Middle East, people are even more likely to feel they have lost ground – 58% of Lebanese, 57% of Palestinians, and 42% of Jordanians say they currently occupy a lower rung on the ladder of life than five years ago.

Of all the measures of personal satisfaction, the shift in how people rate their own progress over the last five years is the most strongly correlated with real per capita GDP growth since 2002 (.55 correlation). Accordingly, several countries that have seen strong economic growth, such as Argentina, Venezuela, Slovakia, Bulgaria and China, also tend to have enjoyed large gains in personal progress.

Optimism for the Future

Regardless of how they feel about their current situation, publics throughout the world generally are inclined to believe their personal lives will improve over the next five years. In nearly every country surveyed, majorities or pluralities expect to be at a higher point on the ladder of life five years from now.

Despite the many challenges faced by countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, the region stands out as the most optimistic in the world. Roughly nine-in-ten respondents in Mali, Ivory Coast and Senegal believe their lives will improve, as do large majorities in six of the other seven African nations included in the survey.

Optimism also characterizes most Asian countries, including the growing economic giants, India and China. Eight-in-ten Indians and 76% of Chinese believe their lives will get better in the coming five years.

Most Latin Americans also are optimistic; at least half of those in the seven Latin American countries surveyed say their lives will improve. Brazilians are particularly hopeful, with 71% saying they expect their lives to be better in five years and only 7% giving their future lives a lower rating.

The picture is a bit more mixed in the Middle East. Moroccans, Kuwaitis, and Israelis are generally hopeful about the future. Elsewhere in the region, optimism is not as strong, although optimists consistently outnumber pessimists even in places that have experienced conflict in recent years, such as Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

In the West there is a bit less optimism about the future. The United States is the most optimistic Western country; still, only 55% of Americans anticipate being better off in five years. The British (50% optimistic) and Swedes (48%) are the most optimistic in Western Europe. In Eastern Europe, about half of Slovaks, Ukrainians, Poles, and Russians feel hopeful. Czechs, however, are the gloomiest public surveyed; just 32% believe they will make progress over the next five years and more than one-in-four (28%) think they will actually lose ground.

Less Optimism for Children’s Future

While most people envision their own lives improving over the next few years, they are less optimistic about the long-term prospects for their countries’ children. Majorities in only 18 of 47 countries think their nations’ children will have better lives when they grow up than people have now.

Pessimism about the prospects for the current generation of children is especially prevalent in Western Europe, the United States, and Canada. People in France, Germany, and Italy are the most glum; even in the United States, usually considered a fairly optimistic country, only 31% believe things will be better for American children, down from 41% in 2002. In nine countries, including nearly all advanced economies, majorities see tougher times for today’s kids.

There also is little optimism in Latin America or the Middle East, although some countries stand out for their positive view, such as Morocco (67% better) and Chile (62%). Eastern Europeans tend to be more hopeful, particularly Slovaks, 68% of whom believe life will be better for their country’s children.

But optimism is strongest in Africa and Asia. At least six-in-ten people in Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ethiopia believe life will be better for their children. The highest levels of optimism, however, are in China and Bangladesh. Fully 86% of Chinese believe things will be better for their children and 84% of Bangladeshis say the same. This hopefulness is not shared by all Asian countries though; 70% of Japanese say that when their country’s children grow up, they will be worse off than people today.

Contentment with Family Lives

In nearly every country surveyed, people are more satisfied with their family lives than with their incomes or jobs. Majorities in every country except Uganda and Tanzania are satisfied with their family lives, and in 28 of 47 countries 80% or more say they are happy with their family lives.

People are less enthusiastic about their jobs; still, in 38 countries, majorities of those who are employed say they are satisfied. Job satisfaction is highest in Canada, Sweden, the Czech Republic and the United States, and is generally lower in Africa.

In most countries, people tend to be less satisfied with their household incomes than with their families and jobs. Nonetheless, majorities in 29 countries say they are satisfied with their incomes. In India, which has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, 82% are satisfied with their household income. But the highest level of contentment is in Kuwait, where 85% are satisfied.

The percentage of people who are satisfied with their income is up significantly in 19 of 35 countries where trends from 2002 are available. Several Latin American countries have shown substantial gains in positive views of household income. This is especially the case in Venezuela (+26 points), Argentina (+16) and Peru (+14). The Japanese have experienced the largest decline in income satisfaction; nearly six-in-ten (57%) felt good about their income in 2002, but today less than half (46%) are satisfied.

Many Deprived of Basic Necessities

Outside of Western Europe, Canada, and the United States, many respondents struggle to afford life’s basic necessities. And even in the West, significant minorities say that in the last year they have been unable to afford food, health care, or clothing.⁴ About one-quarter (23%) of Americans report lacking enough money for health care that their family needed at some point in the last year, while 16% were unable to afford food and clothing.

Some of the most distressing results can be found in Africa. Two-thirds of Ugandans (66%) have been unable to buy food within the last year and 76% unable to afford health care. About six-in-ten Kenyans have lacked enough money for food, health care, and clothing their family needed. Many in Tanzania, South Africa, and Ghana also report being deprived of these basic needs.

Deprivation is all too common in Latin America as well, especially Peru and Bolivia. Two-thirds of Peruvians have been unable to afford necessary health care within the last year. Elsewhere in the region, there is less deprivation, although many people still struggle. In Mexico, just under half say they have lacked sufficient money for health care and clothing.

Nearly half of Ukrainians also say they have been unable to provide health care or clothing. And in neighboring Bulgaria and Poland, roughly one-third have been unable to afford food, and even more have lacked money for health care and clothes. Deprivation is much less common among Slovaks and Czechs.

The situation is mixed in Asia. Deprivation levels are relatively high in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan. The Chinese are generally better off, although one-third say there has been a time in the last year when they could not afford health care needed by a member of their family. Fewer than 10% report going without food, health care, or clothing in Malaysia, and even fewer report lacking resources for these items in Japan. Indeed, deprivation levels in Japan are lower than in any other country included in the study.

There are substantial differences in reported deprivations among predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East. Roughly half of Turks (48%) say there have been times in the past year they have lacked money for food, and comparable numbers report being unable to afford health care (47%) and clothing (50%). Deprivations also are fairly common in the Palestinian territories and Morocco. But levels of deprivation in Kuwait are as low as in many advanced countries, and lower than in the United States.

While deprivation remains troublingly high in many countries, there have nonetheless been many significant improvements since 2002. In 20 of 35 countries for which trends are available, significantly fewer people than in 2002 say they have been unable to afford food for their families within the last year. In 22 countries, there has been a decline in the proportion of people saying they have not been able to afford health care; in 24 nations, fewer say they have lacked money for clothing.

In several countries these improvements have been particularly dramatic. Overall, Jordan has experienced the greatest gains of any surveyed: the percentage of Jordanians who have been unable to afford food has dropped 30 percentage points since 2002; the percentage unable to provide health care has fallen 23 points; and there has been a 20-point drop in the share of Jordanians unable to buy clothes their family needed.

Major changes also are found in other regions of the world. In West Africa, significantly fewer Ghanaians now struggle to afford food, health care, and clothing compared with five years ago. In Eastern Europe, fewer Russians, Ukrainians and Bulgarians now report being unable to afford these items. Deprivation also is less common in Latin America, especially among Argentines and Venezuelans.

Personal Economic Concerns Persist

In countries throughout the world, people tend to name financial concerns as the most important problem in their lives. When asked to describe in their own words the most pressing problem facing them and their families, majorities or pluralities in 46 of 47 countries mention economic concerns, such as unemployment, low wages, or the high cost of living.

Financial concerns are particularly widespread in Africa; more than eight-in-ten respondents in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mali volunteer financial concerns as their most important personal problem. But sizable numbers in Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America also name economic challenges.

People in the advanced economies of Western Europe, the United States, and Canada tend to voice a wider array of concerns; still, personal financial issues tend to predominate, especially in Italy, which has experienced little economic growth in recent years, and Spain, where the economy has improved but relatively slowly.

Economic expansion does not necessarily eliminate concerns about personal finances, however. Countries such as Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, and Venezuela all have enjoyed substantial economic growth in recent years; nonetheless, financial concerns remain high in each of these countries.

Although economic issues trump other concerns in nearly every country, respondents also describe a number of challenges in their personal and family lives. For example, in South Africa, which has one of the world’s highest crime rates, 21% name crime as their chief concern. In the Palestinian territories, where checkpoints and other barriers make transportation difficult, 17% say transportation problems are their top worry.

Aside from financial problems, the second most commonly mentioned problem is health and health care, including issues such as personal illness, health care costs, poor quality health care, drug and alcohol use, and hunger. Respondents in relatively prosperous nations are especially likely to mention health and health care issues as their top worry. Germany is the only country where health concerns (28%) outweigh finances (22%), although more than one-in-five Swedes, Japanese, and Canadians also mention health. In the United States, 19% name health issues as their top personal concerns.