Indians happier than five years ago: Survey

Silicon Valley: Indians are markedly happier and optimistic today than five years ago, a recent survey on global opinions has said.

The survey, conducted by the Pew Global Attitudes Project in about 47 nations, shows that increasing contentment in India as well as some other developing nations, including China, is clearly correlated with sizeable increases in per capita Gross Domestic product that has far outpaced the rate of growth prior to 2002.

Over the last five years, the per capita GDP in India rose by 38 per cent and the percentage of people in the country expressing life satisfaction has grown from 29 per cent to 41 per cent, the survey found. Perhaps reflecting their country's tremendous economic growth in recent years.

In contrast, levels of personal contentment and satisfaction with annual incomes have been much more stable in North America, Western Europe and Japan, where income growth has been less impressive.

Also, unlike the developing countries, satisfaction with national conditions is flat or has declined in most advanced nations where trends are available.

In India, a significantly higher number of people are satisfied with the state of the country now, which is 42 per cent versus seven per cent in 2002, though evaluations of the government and national leadership have remained fairly stable at 77 per cent in 2007, it stated.

Similarly, about seven in 10 Indians are more upbeat about the country's economy, compared with 39 per cent in 2002. Among developing nations, workers in India and Kuwait voice the most contentment with their jobs, the poll survey added. With regard to top national problems, the report said, Indians mention pollution, terrorism and drinking water supplies most frequently.