For a country that has weathered years of economic turbulence, political uncertainty, and social strain, Pakistan’s latest showing in Gallup’s annual wellbeing survey carries a quiet but meaningful weight. According to new data released in 2025, Pakistanis are feeling more optimistic about their lives, their economy, and their leadership than they have in years — and the numbers tell a genuinely encouraging story.
A Turning Point in Life Satisfaction
Perhaps the most striking finding from this year’s report is the shift in how Pakistanis evaluate their own lives. Gallup uses a “Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale” to classify respondents as “thriving,” “struggling,” or “suffering” based on how they rate their present and future circumstances. For the first time since 2018, significantly more Pakistani adults now fall into the “thriving” category than the “suffering” one — 25% versus 19%, respectively.
That gap may seem modest, but context matters. In a country where economic hardship, inflation, and political instability have dominated daily life in recent years, the reversal of this ratio is a meaningful signal. It suggests that, at least in terms of how people feel about their own lives and prospects, the mood is shifting upward.
Above Average in South Asia
Pakistan’s improvement doesn’t just stand out in isolation — it now places the country above the regional average for wellbeing in South Asia. This is a notable achievement given how densely populated and economically diverse the region is, and given that neighbors like India and Bangladesh have been investing heavily in development and social programs.
Ranking above the South Asian average for wellbeing reflects not just raw economic data, but how people feel day-to-day: whether they have enough to eat, whether they feel safe, whether they believe tomorrow will be better than today. On all of these dimensions, Pakistanis appear to be reporting more positively than they have in some time.
Economic Optimism Doubles
One of the most concrete data points in the report concerns economic sentiment. In 2024, just 12% of Pakistanis said they believed their local economy was getting better. In 2025, that figure doubled to 25%. That is a dramatic swing in public perception, and it likely reflects a combination of factors: a degree of macroeconomic stabilization, IMF program progress, some easing of inflation pressures, and a sense — however fragile — that the worst may be behind.
Economic optimism matters beyond its face value. When people believe their economic situation is improving, they are more likely to invest, spend, and plan for the future. That shift in psychology can itself become a driver of real economic activity.
Confidence in Leadership
The Gallup data also reflects improved confidence in national leadership, a dimension that had suffered considerably during periods of political turmoil. While the report does not suggest that skepticism has disappeared, the overall direction of sentiment appears more favorable than in recent years. Citizens who feel their government is capable and moving in the right direction tend to be more resilient during ongoing challenges, and that trust can serve as a stabilizing force.
What This Means Going Forward
None of this is to suggest that Pakistan’s challenges have been resolved. Poverty remains widespread, public services are under strain, and structural economic issues persist. But wellbeing surveys capture something that GDP figures often miss: the lived experience of ordinary people. And on that measure, Pakistanis in 2025 are feeling measurably more hopeful.
The Gallup data offers a valuable reminder that national wellbeing is not simply a product of policy — it is also shaped by collective psychology, social trust, and the sense that things can get better. For Pakistan in 2025, that sense appears to be growing. Whether it continues to grow will depend on whether the conditions that sparked it can be sustained and deepened in the years ahead.
