Pakistan has ranked ahead of India in public optimism regarding economic conditions and global peace, according to the Global Economic Gallup Survey conducted across 60 countries at the beginning of 2026.
The survey reports that 51 percent of respondents in Pakistan expressed optimism about the coming year, significantly higher than the global average of 31 percent. In comparison, 39 percent of respondents in India reported a positive outlook.
In terms of economic expectations, the survey states that 53 percent of Pakistanis view 2026 as a year of economic prosperity. This figure is well above both India’s 39 percent and the global average of 24 percent, placing Pakistan among the more optimistic nations surveyed.
Pakistan also performed strongly on perceptions of peace. According to the findings, 52 percent of people in Pakistan believe that peace will increase globally, compared to 26 percent in India. Survey analysts noted that this level of optimism in Pakistan is among the highest recorded since 1994.
The Global Economic Gallup Survey measures public sentiment rather than economic output or security statistics, focusing on how people perceive future economic stability and peace.
Analysts suggest that such optimism can play a role in shaping consumer confidence and social outlook, though they caution that perceptions may differ from on-ground economic indicators.
The survey’s results highlight a notable contrast in public sentiment between Pakistan, India, and the global average as the world enters 2026.
