The survey shows that 51 percent of Pakistanis believe 2026 will be better than 2025. This optimism is much higher than in India, where only 39 percent of people share the same hope, and far above the global average of 24 percent.

The Global Economic Gallup Survey was conducted in 60 countries and included nearly 60,000 adults, making it one of the largest global opinion studies available.

Pakistan also placed among the top five countries globally for economic optimism. It recorded a net prosperity score of plus 26 percent, putting it alongside Saudi Arabia and Kenya.

In contrast, many developed economies in Europe and North America showed strong pessimism about their economic future. Globally, only 24 percent expect prosperity in 2026, while 40 percent fear economic difficulty.

Also Read: Pakistan CPI inflation drops to 5.6% YoY in December 2025

Pakistan also stood out in expectations for global peace. The survey found that 52 percent of Pakistanis believe global peace will improve, compared to just 26 percent in India. This is one of the highest peace optimism levels recorded in Pakistan since 1994.

Gallup International noted that only a small number of countries show optimism across all three areas: overall hope, economic outlook, and peace expectations. Pakistan is part of this select group, along with Saudi Arabia, Kenya, South Africa, and Colombia.

The survey also revealed that optimism is strongest in the Global South, including South Asia, Africa, and the Arab world. Younger people under 34 are the most hopeful, while those aged 55 and above are generally more pessimistic.

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Despite rising global anxiety and weakening confidence worldwide, Pakistan’s results point to growing public hope about the future.