Economy, jobs continue to rank as most important problems
February 9, 2012
Though Americans remain largely dissatisfied with the way things are going in the U.S., the 22% who are satisfied is up from 15% in December and is the highest since last spring.
Economy rating is still low vs. other issues, but is most improved since November
February 9, 2012
President Obama's 38% approval rating on the economy is far from robust, but has perked up from 30% in November and 26% last summer. Despite these gains, Obama continues to rate worse on economic issues than on foreign policy issues.
Many more had trouble paying for food, shelter last year
February 7, 2012
Iranians are increasingly struggling to afford food and shelter, and 65% say sanctions imposed by the United Nations, the U.S., and Western Europe will hurt the livelihoods of the country's residents "a great deal" or "somewhat."
Recent optimism about government, leadership, and corruption may advance Haitian recovery
January 31, 2012
Haitians' faith in government institutions has reached record highs since the devastating earthquake two years ago. Nearly half of Haitians (46%) are confident in their national government, up from 16% in 2010.
Averaged 43% job approval in most recent quarter in office
January 20, 2012
President Barack Obama averaged 44% job approval for his third year in office, which ended Jan. 19. His third-year average is down slightly from his second-year average of 47% and remains well below his first-year average of 57%.
Approval is higher when residents perceive economic conditions as good
January 20, 2012
Residents of the troubled economies of southern and eastern Europe are generally less likely to approve of the job performance of their country's leaders than are northern and western Europeans.
Approval ratings across sub-Saharan Africa top those in EU countries
December 27, 2011
The EU's leadership is much more popular in sub-Saharan Africa than in the EU, according to Gallup surveys in 125 countries between 2010 and 2011. Residents in the Middle East and North Africa region are the most critical, while the EU's leadership is often unknown elsewhere.
More approve of China's and Turkey's leadership, but still more disapprove than approve
December 2, 2011
Nine percent of Iranians approved of U.K. and U.S. leadership when Gallup surveyed there in early 2011 and not many more approved of the EU's leadership (12%). The most educated Iranians are more likely to approve of these foreign leaderships than less educated Iranians, regardless of income.
A median of 44% in the region approve of the U.S. vs. 30% approval for China
November 18, 2011
Approval of U.S. leadership among Asian nations that are part of ASEAN or East Asia Summit group ranges from 68% in Cambodia to 16% in India, with many Asians not offering an opinion. Even so, residents in most of these countries are more likely to approve of the U.S. than of China.