Thirty-three percent of Macedonian citizens expect 2011 to be better than 2010, 34 percent believe it will be the same, while 30 percent claim it will be worse, show results of the "Global Barometer" survey by Gallup International.

In regional terms, Kosovo citizens are more optimistic (55%), whereas people in Bosnia&Herzegovina (22%), Bulgaria (21%) and Serbia (11%) are less hopeful compared to Macedonians.

Asked whether 2011 will be a year of economic prosperity, 21 percent of Macedonians polled said yes, 42 percent expect it will be the same, while 34 percent expect worsening.

Unemployment remains the biggest economic problem for Macedonians, with 45 percent expecting its increase in 2011, 24 percent expect lowering, while 27 percent expect it will remain the same.

The Gallup International survey, conducted in 53 countries where 76 percent of the global population lives, shows that 42 percent of people polled worldwide expect 2011 to be better than 2010, while 19 percent have a pessimistic view.