They’re not a happy lot in Senegal. Fifty-three per cent of the population say 2008 will be worse than 2007, according to Gallup International’s Voice of the People End of the Year Survey.

In contrast, here in Australia, 53% of us say 2008 will be better – enough to put us in the Top 10 of optimists with a surprising number of South American nations.

Gallup says “Looking at regions across the world, Latin America is the most optimistic region, while the most negative views were found, as in last year’s study, in Western Europe.”

Top Optimists

2008 will be better than 2007

Hong Kong 71%
Kosovo (UN Administered) 68%
Colombia 66%
New Zealand 57%
Venezuela 53%
Australia 53%
Sweden 51%
India 51%
Canada 50%
Argentina 49%

Top Pessimists

2008 will be worse than 2007

Senegal 53%
Greece 48%
Italy 44%
Czech Republic 43%
Switzerland 43%
Jordan 43%
Portugal 41%
Egypt 41%
Ireland 39%
Panama 37%