The Week in Charts

Welcome to The Week in Charts, where we break down Gallup's latest insights on our constantly evolving world. Here are the five insights you shouldn't miss this week:

1. Afghanistan: Country in Crisis

Line Chart: 98% of Afghans are considered to be suffering in 2022.

We continue to track how life across Afghanistan is unfolding after the Taliban's return to power. In our latest survey, we record some of the worst life evaluation ratings and basic-need shortages we have seen since the Gallup World Poll was created in 2005. Perhaps most concerning is the degree to which Afghans see their nation's children as not having the opportunity to learn and grow.

2. Guns in American Homes

Line Chart: 46% of Americans live in a household where someone owns a firearm, and 33% own one.

Americans own guns, and it's not changing. We've been asking U.S. adults about gun ownership for decades and find that 46% currently say they live in a household where someone owns a firearm. While ownership varies by political party and other demographic subgroups, I find the gap between small-town and urban America particularly striking.
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3. Christmas Spending, Here It Comes!

Line Chart: On average, Americans say they will spend $932 on Christmas gifts in 2022.

Before the holiday season was in full swing, Americans were planning to spend generously compared with previous years. Although they likely still will, it might have more to do with inflation than extra Christmas cheer.
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4. Finland's Allies

Line Chart: Comparison of Finns' approval of the leadership of China, the EU, Russia and the U.S.

As Finland's prime minister pushes forward on less dependence on China for chips and semiconductors, public sentiment in the country continues to further align with the West. Finns' approval of U.S. and EU leadership continues to rise, while their approval of Chinese and Russian leadership remains low — making decisions like technology decoupling not only strategically important but also politically popular.

5. Covid in the Office

Line Chart: 26% of employed Americans are concerned about coronavirus exposure at work in 2022.

As winter approaches us here in the Northern Hemisphere, the cold season's sick days feel like they are back with a vengeance. We've continued to ask Americans if they're concerned about catching COVID in the office, and while it's continuing to trend downward, it's still a thing.
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And that's The Week in Charts!

Mohamed Younis
Editor-in-Chief
Gallup

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