Recently, the Sociological Group "Rating" completed an extensive study in collaboration with the globally renowned research institution Gallup International. The survey was conducted as part of the "End of Year" 2023 project. Let's delve into the sixth topic of the comprehensive study: Was the threat from the coronavirus exaggerated?

Overall, almost half of the respondents worldwide agree that the threat of coronavirus was exaggerated. Another quarter gave an undecided response of "agree and disagree." The rest either disagreed or did not respond.

• In Ukraine, one of the highest numbers in Europe agreed with the statement about the exaggeration of the coronavirus threat: 53% agreed, 30% disagreed, and 16% were undecided. In other European countries, fewer agreed with this statement.
• Overall, the statement "I believe the threat from the coronavirus was exaggerated" had the highest agreement (over 60%) among respondents in five countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Azerbaijan, Romania, and Georgia.
• The Middle East also shows a high level of agreement that the COVID-19 threat was exaggerated: Afghanistan (62%), Iraq (59%), and Syria (57%).
• The highest percentage of disagreement with this statement is observed among European countries: Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
• In the United States and Canada, there is almost an equal percentage of agreement and disagreement regarding the exaggeration of the threat.
• Regarding South America, Mexico has one of the highest percentages in the world of those who believe the threat from the coronavirus was not exaggerated. Argentina and Ecuador also have similar figures.

The international Gallup International End of Year Survey (EoY) is an annual tradition initiated and developed in 1977. Since then, the survey has been conducted every year. This year, the project was carried out in 41 countries worldwide.