Indians second most optimistic about economy

MUMBAI: Optimism in India up 7% on stable governance, policy continuity, and easing pressure from key economic indicators. according to the latest What Worries the World survey by Ipsos.


About 69% of Indians now say the country is headed in the right direction, up 7 percentage points in a month, placing India second globally alongside Malaysia and behind Singapore, where confidence reached 82% across 30 surveyed markets.


Global confidence stayed subdued, with only 41% of respondents worldwide saying their countries were on the right track despite a 3% month-on-month uptick, while France ranked last with just 9% expressing optimism.




“India’s position as the world’s fourth-largest economy is built on a foundation of stable governance and long-term vision. Citizens are at the center of policy, with levers such as targeted economic growth, healthcare initiatives, free rations for vulnerable communities, and investments in infrastructure. The focus on sustainable mobility, solar energy, and measures to keep inflation in check reflects a commitment to both progress and quality of life. This combination of stability, inclusivity, and forward-looking strategy not only strengthens confidence today but also lays the groundwork for India’s resilient growth tomorrow,” said Suresh Ramalingam, CEO, Ipsos India.


The survey showed Indian worries largely steady in Jan, with education concerns rising while anxieties around inflation, unemployment, terrorism, and financial and political corruption barely moved, pointing to a calmer public mood.


“Revisions to the US–India trade deal are expected to ease concerns around education by improving access, collaboration, and opportunities. While food inflation has moderated, the cost of living continues to be the top concern for Indians. Globally, ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, along with law and order challenges in several major cities, have made crime and violence the leading worry worldwide. Continued peace efforts in Gaza and Ukraine offer cautious hope of some relief in the months ahead,” Ramalingam said.


Ipsos conducted the 29-country Global Advisor survey between Dec 24, 2025, and Jan 9, 2026, via its online panel, covering adults aged 18–74 in Canada, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye and the US, 20–74 in Indonesia and Thailand, 21–74 in Singapore, and 16–74 elsewhere.


The Global Country Average is an unweighted mean of all markets, based on samples of around 1,000 respondents each in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden and the US, and around 500 each in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and Türkiye.


Samples in advanced economies broadly represent adults under 75, while those in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Türkiye skew urban, educated, and affluent, reflecting more connected populations.


India’s sample covers urban socio-economic classes A, B and C across metros and tier 1–3 towns nationwide, weighted to census demographics, with credibility intervals of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points for samples of 1,000 and plus or minus 5 percentage points for samples of 500, with minor variation from rounding or exclusions.