India has climbed 3 percentage points in national optimism, according to the May edition of the Ipsos What Worries the World survey, maintaining its 4th global rank. The recent launch of Operation Sindoor appears to have boosted public confidence, with nearly two-thirds of Indians believing the country is moving in the right direction.
Amit Adarkar, CEO of Ipsos India, stated in the press release, “The handling of Operation Sindoor by the government and the armed forces has reinforced people’s faith in the system, showing that our administration is equipped to counter external challenges in the best interests of both the citizens and the country. This has provided a renewed boost of optimism.”
Topping the charts in the optimism index, which reflects how citizens perceive their country’s governance and performance, are Singapore (77%), Malaysia (69%), Indonesia (67%), India (65%), Argentina (56%), Thailand (45%), and Mexico (45%). Interestingly, these top positions are primarily occupied by nations from the Global South, signaling a shift in the global economic order. In contrast, global citizens appear more disheartened, with only 37% believing their countries are headed in the right direction.
At the bottom of the list are countries with the lowest levels of optimism, including Peru (9%), South Korea (15%), and France (19%), where the majority of citizens feel their countries are on the wrong track.
The survey also explores the most pressing social and political issues according to the public. For Indians, and unemployment emerged as the top concerns, with 37% and 33% respectively, although both issues saw a 2% decline in concern. However, terrorism witnessed a sharp 11% increase, entering the top three concerns with 26% of the vote, following the on tourists in & Kashmir, in which 26 Indian lives were lost. Other key issues concerning Indians include crime and violence (25%) and financial or political corruption (21%).
For Indians, issues of Inflation and unemployment secured the top spots with 37 and 33 percent respectively. (Photo credit: Ipsos Press Release)“Indians’ concern over the two major macroeconomic issues—inflation and unemployment—has stabilized in May 2025, while terrorism surged to the third spot, highlighting the emotional impact of the Pahalgam attack on the collective psyche of the nation,” Adarkar added.
Globally, the top issues troubling citizens include inflation (33%), crime and violence (33%), poverty and social inequality (29%), followed by unemployment (27%) and financial or political corruption (26%).
Moreover, South Korea—ranked second to last in optimism—will hold its 21st presidential election on June 3. Despite traditionally being a pessimistic electorate, only 8% of South Koreans currently rate their economy as good, according to the economic indicator score. The situation has worsened following the failure of martial law under the former president, compounded by U.S. tariff policies, which have led to slower economic growth and rising unemployment.
