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. Demanding More for the Environment

Line Chart: Satisfaction with efforts to preserve the environment in the U.S. and worldwide.

As the world's leaders gather for COP27 at the Red Sea to discuss the state of the environment, we review how people worldwide graded their country's efforts to preserve the environment in 2021. Slightly more than one-third of the world's population — which translates to about 2 billion people — told us they were dissatisfied. Our research also highlights the negative effects of extreme heat on people's life evaluation and wellbeing.
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2. Japan: More Stick, Less Carrot

Line Chart: 86% of Japanese adults say they are confident in their military in 2022.

An important foundational shift taking place in our changing global order is Japan's stiffened national defense posture. Its leaders' latest announcement to increase military capacity, including the development of hypersonic weapons, comes as the Japanese public's confidence in the military holds steady at a high level.

3. CDC in the Doghouse

Line Chart: Rating how clearly the CDC, state governors and Joe Biden communicated COVID-19 plans.

In the wake of some mixed messaging coming from the Biden administration about whether the pandemic is over, only three in 10 Americans say the CDC has communicated a clear plan for dealing with COVID, down eight percentage points from last November. Although most Americans are optimistic about the current trajectory of the pandemic, only four in 10 are willing to say the situation is behind us.
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4. Death Row

Line Chart: 55% of Americans are in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder.

Americans remain steady in their support of capital punishment for convicted murderers. The 55% who favor the death penalty, however, is a far cry from the record high of 80% in 1994. The steady support comes in a year when Americans have higher concerns regarding crime in their own community and across the nation.
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5. Give Me Five Stars!

Bar Chart: Comparing the average number of survey questions missed using different types of scales.

We've all seen them — at the airport, at the concert, at the ball game — those smiling and frowning faces or stars, asking you to rate your experience. Our methodologists have been testing whether traditional survey response scales are more effective than the pedestrian-friendly smile and stars system we have all become accustomed to. Which do you think won out?
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And that's The Week in Charts!

Mohamed Younis
Editor-in-Chief
Gallup

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