Austrians are among the most pessimistic people in the world, according to the Gallup International End-of-Year Survey, whose findings were made public by electronic media outlets on Thursday. Among the 60 countries surveyed, only people in Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina are more pessimistic about the future than Austrians.
Gallup International surveyed some 1,000 people in each country. Asked about their expectations for 2026, 15% of respondents in Austria said that it would be better than 2025, 41% expected it to be worse, and 39% said it would be the same. Last year, Austrians were even more pessimistic, with 50% saying the year ahead would be worse.
Austria’s net optimism score for 2026 stands at -26 points, matching Ghana and Belgium. Bosnia and Herzegovina ranks slightly lower at -28 points, while Bulgaria shows even greater pessimism, with a score of -36 points.
Kenyans are the most optimistic about the future, with a net score of +67 points, followed by Syria at +61. People in Saudi Arabia (+58), Colombia (+45), and India (+44) are also among the most hopeful.
Globally, 37% of respondents believe that 2026 will be a better year than 2025, while 25% expect it to be worse and 31% expect no major change, according to Gallup International.
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