Islamabad: Pakistan has surpassed India in public optimism regarding peace and economic prosperity, according to the latest Global Economic Gallup Survey, which assesses public expectations at the start of 2026.
The survey, conducted across 60 countries, indicates that Pakistan has outperformed both India and the global average on key indicators, including overall hope, economic outlook, and expectations for global peace.
According to the findings, 51 percent of Pakistanis expressed optimism about the coming year, resulting in a net positive hope score of 31 percent—one of the strongest results recorded for the country in recent decades.
On the economic front, 53 percent of respondents in Pakistan described 2026 as a year of prosperity, significantly higher than India’s 39 percent and the global average of 24 percent.
Pakistan also showed stronger confidence regarding global peace. The survey revealed that 52 percent of Pakistanis believe the global peace situation will improve, compared to just 26 percent in India.
Analysts note that this level of optimism in Pakistan is among the highest since 1994, with similar trends previously observed during the late 1990s and mid-2010s.
Overall, Pakistan performed better than the global average across three key indicators—general optimism, economic prosperity, and peace expectations—while surpassing India in two of these major categories.
Despite ongoing global uncertainty, the survey reflects a growing sense of confidence and hope among Pakistani citizens regarding 2026. Observers say the findings also point to a relatively positive regional and international perception of Pakistan as the new year begins.
