61% of Citizens in Advanced Countries Say COVID-19 Has Deepened Social Divisions

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] A survey found that a significant number of citizens in advanced countries feel that society has become more divided after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Pew Research Center on the 24th, a survey conducted in February and March with about 18,000 citizens from 17 advanced countries showed that 61% responded that their society has become more divided since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The proportion of those who answered that society has become more unified was only 34%.

The countries surveyed include the United States, Canada, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The country with the highest percentage of citizens who viewed society as more divided was the United States, at 88%. In Europe, about 80% of citizens in Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands said society has become more divided.

Additionally, in South Korea, 61% and in Japan, 59% responded that society has become more divided after COVID-19. In contrast, the majority of citizens in Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Singapore viewed society as more unified.

There were also differences in residents' evaluations of their own country's economic situation after COVID-19. While 58% of European residents said their economy has not recovered from the impact of COVID-19, 64% of Asian residents responded that their economy is recovering.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.