Poll in 12 countries of the world: Ukrainians suffer most - 6 September, 2002

News agencies have published results of a poll held by Ipsos-Reid in twelve countries of the world, the USA, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Hungary, Romania, Czechia, France, Russia, Poland and Germany. The poll reveals, Ukrainians estimate their life as the worst.

Only 4% of Ukrainians say that level of their livings is high. 10% of Russians, 8% of Poles, 36% of French and 64% of Americans are satisfied with quality of their livings. What is remarkable, number of optimists in Ukraine is bigger than in Russia: 39% vs. 23% in Russia. Poles are the most pessimistic(22%), and Germans are the most pessimistic among industrially developed countries (28%). People from English-speaking countries are the most optimistic: Americans (61%), Australians (45%), Canadians (43%) and Englishmen (42%).

This year the poll has been held for the fifth time already. It is interesting that number of optimistic Americans has reduced by 2% within a year (63% in 2001), however, number of Americans satisfied with quality of their living has increased by 3% (61% in 2001).

As for Russia, pessimism of its citizens remains on the same level for the second year and makes up 23% (15% in 1999, 20% in 1998 and 33% in 1997). Since 1999, Russians think quality of their living is getting better every year: 7% of Russians were satisfied with quality of their living in 1999, and already 9% - in 2001.  As for Ukraine, quality of living remains on the same level there, however, more and more Ukrainians hope for the best (27% in 2001). 
 
Alexander Gorobets
PRAVDA.Ru
Kiev