Residents of Qatar and Oman are the most optimistic about their economies of 16 countries Gallup surveyed in the Middle East and North Africa in early 2011. Residents of Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, the Palestinian Territories, and Bahrain are among the least optimistic.
The leadership of the United Nations has more fans than critics worldwide, netting more approval than disapproval in 106 out of 126 countries Gallup surveys. Residents of countries in the Middle East and North Africa -- and the U.S. -- were among its sharpest critics; nearly half or more disapproved.
Potential migrants in Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria particularly drawn to France
April 29, 2011
Twenty-six percent of North African adults said they would choose to move to another country permanently if they could, even before unrest in North Africa prompted thousands to flee to other countries. Fourteen percent who want to migrate said they planned to move in the next year.
Last fall, 41% of respondents said they had trouble affording shelter in the past year
March 31, 2011
As anti-government protests continue in Bahrain, recent surveys reveal the country's housing shortage is among the public's most pressing economic concerns. In October 2010, 41% of adults surveyed in Bahrain said there were times in the past year when they did not have enough money to pay for adequate shelter.
At the Obama administration's halfway mark, approval of U.S. leadership worldwide is still higher than during the Bush administration's last years. Across 116 countries, median approval of U.S. leadership in 2010 stood at 47% -- relatively unchanged from the 49% median across 111 countries in 2009.
Many young Arabs less likely to say leaders harness their talents
February 9, 2011
Young people in several Arab countries became less likely in 2010 to believe their leadership fully uses their human capital. Young Egyptians' perceptions experienced one of the largest declines: fewer than 3 in 10 say Egypt's leadership maximizes youth potential, down from almost 4 in 10 in 2009.
People less likely to volunteer time than donate money, help stranger
January 18, 2011
People with high civic engagement are positive about the communities where they live and actively give back to them. Gallup data from 130 countries show that, in general, adults in developed countries are much more likely to be civically engaged than those in the developing world.
Those planning to start a business in the next 12 months more likely to be employed
November 17, 2010
Young people in the Arab League are nearly four times as likely as those in North America or Europe to plan to start businesses in the next year, according to 2010 findings from The Silatech Index: Voices of Young Arabs.
Approval fell significantly between 2009 and 2010 in 6 of 10 countries
September 30, 2010
Approval of U.S. leadership is now similar or lower than what it was in 2008 in several of the Middle East and North African countries Gallup surveyed in 2010. Egypt, Syria, and Algeria are the exceptions. In all cases, only minorities approve.
Job status does make a difference for youth in Middle East and North Africa
September 8, 2010
Millions of young people worldwide would leave their countries if they had the chance, regardless of whether they have jobs at home. Everywhere except the Middle East and North Africa, adults under 30 who are employed, underemployed, or not in the workforce are equally likely to desire to migrate.
