Close to Half of Bulgarians Pessimistic about Future, 20% Expect 2023 to Be Better – Poll

Jerusalem, 29 December, 2022 (TPS) -- SOFIA, 29.12.2022 (BTA)
Public attitudes vary vastly on New Year’s Eve and the world seems to be less united than in previous years, shows a poll conducted by the Gallup International Association since 1977, in which Bulgaria is included.

This year’s survey was conducted across 35 countries among a total of 35,664 respondents. A total of 1,000 people were interviewed face-to-face, via telephone or online in each country between October and December, 2022.

The survey’s results show that pessimism remains high in Bulgaria, but has not increased compared to previous years. In recent years, Bulgaria has been often ranked among the top five most pessimistic nations, but this year other countries have become more pessimistic.

A total of 20% of Bulgarians expect 2023 to be a better year, while 44% of Bulgarians are pessimistic about the future and 27% believe next year will be the same as 2022. Bulgarians remain traditionally pessimistic compared to the global average. The ongoing political instability and insecurity from the past two years has led to the highest levels of pessimism in recent decades. This’s pessimism remains high, but has stopped growing.

Hopes for economic prosperity are also not very high – 9% expect a better year for the economy, 60% expect difficulties and 23% expect 2023 to be the same as 2022.

The perception of happiness in Bulgaria remains at its levels from last year and seems to follow its own different logic. A total of 43% of Bulgarian respondents said they are happy, 11% said they’re unhappy and 42% said they’re somewhere in the middle. The share of undecided is minimal. Happiness in Bulgaria is tangibly lower, compared to the rest of the world, but at least Bulgaria did not rank among the unhappiest countries this year.

Bulgarians are moderately worried about the risk of nuclear weapons use. The data collected in this country is close to the global average and closest to the EU’s, where respondents are moderately worried about this threat. A total of 31% of Bulgarians believe there is high risk of nuclear weapons use, 41% believe the risk is moderate and 13% believe there is no risk.