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Optimism for 2025: Ipsos Predictions Find Personal Optimism Yet Global Pessimism
Optimism for 2025: Ipsos Predictions Find Personal Optimism Yet Global Pessimism
by Victor Perton
As we approach the dawn of 2025, global surveys like the Ipsos Predictions 2025 provide a window into the collective psyche of the world's population. This annual survey, encompassing responses from 33 countries, focuses on people's expectations and optimism for the upcoming year. One striking finding highlights the enduring pattern where personal optimism exceeds optimism for the nation or world.
A Snapshot of Optimism
Respondents were asked to indicate if they agreed very much, agreed somewhat, disagreed somewhat, or disagreed very much with the statement:
"I am optimistic that 2025 will be a better year for me than it was in 2024."
Globally, 71% agreed with the statement. In comparison, only 52% believed the global economy would improve in 2025, highlighting the disparity between personal and collective optimism.
Personal Optimism: A Consistent Global Phenomenon
The Ipsos survey confirmed a familiar trend: individuals are more optimistic about their personal circumstances than broader societal or global conditions. This discrepancy often reflects a sense of agency over personal situations compared to the complexities of national or international challenges.
Across the 33 countries surveyed, optimism was highest in developing nations, where growth and opportunities often fuel a forward-looking attitude. Developed countries grappling with economic stagnation and media-driven negativity generally expressed lower optimism for collective outcomes.
Australia: Personally Optimistic but Bleak About the Nation and the World
The survey results for Australia reflect a complex mixture of personal optimism and national pessimism. While Australians displayed optimism about their personal lives, this was overshadowed by deep concerns about the economy, national challenges, and the state of the world:
- Personal optimism: Australians remained generally optimistic about their individual circumstances, with optimism levels aligning closely with global averages. This reflects the international stereotype of Australians as relentless optimists.
- Economic outlook: Only 47% of Australians believed that "the global economy will be stronger in 2025 than it was in 2024." This low confidence highlights anxieties about international financial stability, inflation, and geopolitical tensions.
- Cost of living: A striking 84% of Australians agreed that "prices in my country will increase faster than people's incomes" in 2025. This stark figure underlines the pervasive worry about the so-called cost-of-living crisis and its pressures on households.
- National challenges: More than 65% of Australians agreed that "2024 was a bad year for my country," reflecting a pervasive unease about societal conditions, governance, and global events.
- Global pessimism: Australians expressed one of the bleakest outlooks about the world. The Ipsos Halifax Report 2024 asked, "When You Really Think About It, More Things Are Getting Better in the World These Days Than Are Getting Worse." Only 34% of Australians agreed, marking a sharp 14-percentage-point drop from 2023. This decline reflects increasing global uncertainty, compounded by environmental, geopolitical, and economic concerns.
These responses collectively paint a bleak picture of broader sentiment, suggesting that Australians perceive 2025 as a year likely to bring persistent challenges. While individual optimism remains strong, it starkly contrasts a pessimistic national and global outlook.
Country Rankings: A Closer Look
The Ipsos Predictions 2025 survey revealed varying levels of optimism across participating nations. These differences highlight how national circumstances, cultural factors, and economic conditions shape people's outlooks:
High Optimism:
Countries such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Peru, and China stood out with significant optimism. These nations often benefit from robust economic growth, youthful populations, and emerging opportunities, which fuel a hopeful perspective.
Moderate Optimism:
Countries like Australia, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Colombia exhibited optimism levels close to the global average. Stable economies, improving social conditions, and resilient communities underpin cautious but steady confidence in a better 2025.
Lower Optimism:
Countries such as Japan, Germany, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Romania, and Great Britain showed subdued optimism. Ageing populations, slower economic growth, and persistent global uncertainties likely influenced these outcomes.
Optimism's Role in Shaping the Future
The survey findings align with broader research on the "optimism effect." Optimism not only inspires hope but also drives action. Studies have shown that optimistic individuals and nations are more likely to engage in innovation, productivity, and collective problem-solving. Leaders can harness this optimism to inspire resilience and foster progress, transforming hope into tangible outcomes.
Conclusion: What Can We Do?
Despite the challenges, there are many reasons to remain optimistic about Australia and the world. Consider recent achievements like groundbreaking medical research, rapid advancements in renewable energy, and community-driven initiatives addressing inequality. These stories showcase the power of human ingenuity and collective effort.
To foster optimism, we can make small but meaningful changes:
- Shift our daily mindset: Replace "How are you?" with "What's been the best thing in your day?" This simple change sparks positivity and encourages uplifting conversations.
- Encourage optimism in leadership: Around boardroom and management tables, ask, "What makes you optimistic?" Such discussions inspire innovation and focus on opportunities rather than obstacles.
- Celebrate progress: Share positive stories about scientific breakthroughs, environmental recoveries, and societal advancements. Highlighting these achievements can counteract pessimism and fuel hope for the future.
By taking these steps, Australians can contribute to a culture of optimism, resilience, and progress. Together, we can turn the challenges of 2025 into opportunities, ensuring a brighter and better future for all.
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