Asians Public Opinion: Are Their Countries Heading in the Right Direction?

Public confidence in the future of a country can provide an important snapshot of how citizens view their governments, economies, and societies. According to the Ipsos Global Opinion Polls covering January to February 2026, Asian countries showed generally positive but varied perceptions about whether their nations were heading in the right direction.

Among the seven countries highlighted, Singapore recorded the strongest sense of optimism, while Japan was the only country where a majority believed the country was moving in the wrong direction.

Singapore ranked first, with 86% of citizens saying their country was heading in the right direction, compared with just 14% who believed it was on the wrong track. This exceptionally high level of confidence places Singapore at the top of the group and reflects a broadly positive public outlook.

Malaysia followed with 74% saying the country was heading in the right direction and 26% saying it was moving in the wrong direction. The result indicates that nearly three-quarters of Malaysians held an optimistic view of the country's trajectory.

In India, 69% of respondents believed the country was heading in the right direction, while 31% disagreed. India therefore ranked third among the seven Asian countries, demonstrating a strong majority of positive sentiment. Ipsos' January 2026 reporting similarly highlighted strong optimism in India, with 69% expressing confidence in the country's direction.

Thailand and Indonesia were tied, with 62% of citizens in each country saying their nation was heading in the right direction and 38% saying it was on the wrong track. Thailand's February results came amid significant political and economic concerns, including corruption, although optimism about the country's overall direction remained relatively strong.

South Korea recorded 58% positive sentiment and 42% negative sentiment. Although the margin remained clearly positive, the result suggests a more divided public mood than in Singapore, Malaysia, or India.

At the bottom of the ranking was Japan, where only 41% believed the country was heading in the right direction, while 59% felt it was on the wrong track. Japan therefore stood apart from the other six countries, as pessimism outweighed optimism.

Overall, these figures reveal a notable pattern across Asia: most of the countries surveyed had a majority of citizens who felt their nations were moving in the right direction.

Singapore stood out for its exceptionally high confidence, while Malaysia and India also recorded strong majorities. Thailand, Indonesia, and South Korea showed moderately positive views, whereas Japan faced a distinctly more pessimistic public mood.

Ipsos' “right direction or wrong track” question is part of its Global Advisor/What Worries the World research, which regularly measures public sentiment across countries.