site.bta35% of Bulgarians Believe They Have Better Lives Than Their Parents

Around 35% of Bulgarians believe that they have better lives than their parents' generation. Nearly 31% of respondents are of the opposite opinion, according to a survey by Gallup International Balkan. For 27% of the Bulgarians there is no difference between their lives and those of the previous generation, while 7% cannot judge whether their lives now are better than those of their parents.

The survey was carried out globally between August and October 2022 among 60,724 respondents. In each of the 64 participant countries, about 1,000 people were interviewed face-to-face, by telephone or online.

Bulgarians have a clear sense of nostalgia for the past, but also one of hope, albeit timid, for the future. Apparently, it is the grim assessment of the present that determines both, sociologists said. The assessments of life nowadays in Moldova, France and Italy are similar to those of Bulgaria, while its neighbours in North Macedonia, Romania, Greece, Serbia seem to be more positive about life today, the agency adds.

Attitudes towards the future are more positive among representatives of the younger generation in Bulgaria. A total of 37% of Bulgarian respondents expect children's lives today to be better than theirs, 29% see more difficulties in the lives of today's children, and 20% believe that the next generation will have the same lives, and 14% could not decide. Thus, the difference between those who are positive and negative about the future of children today is 8 points in favour of those who expect a better life for the next generation, Gallup International stated.

Global data for other countries show that one in two (51%) citizens believe that their lives are better than those of their parents.

The results vary among different social groups according to indicators such as household income, education, etc.