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World Poll Datasets and Methodology

World Poll Datasets and Methodology

Since 2006, Gallup's World Poll surveys adults in more than 160 countries, representing more than 99% of the world's population using randomly selected, nationally representative samples. Gallup typically surveys 1,000 individuals in each country using a standard set of core questions that has been translated into the major languages of each country. Some annual national samples include surveys of 2,000, 4,000, or even 10,000 respondents. Weighting variables are provided to produce nationwide estimates from the sample data. In some regions, supplemental questions are asked in addition to the core questions. You can view the worldwide (aggregate) results or select a region or a country. 69 countries have been surveyed in all years, and 127 countries have been surveyed in eight or more years.

WARNING. Gallup World Poll microdata are presented in one file, formatted for SPSS or Stata statistical software. The Gallup World Poll microdata dataset is a VERY BIG file.

Details
  1. Create a free account with Gallup’s World Poll Reference Tool. This tool allows you to find which questions were asked a country in particular years.  Search by Region, Country, Category, Subcategory, Dates, and Question Text.   
  2. Note that for the question text, you only get a search result if you use the exact word that Gallup uses.  For instance, searching by “sad” will not pull up the questions associated with “sadness.”  If you don’t see what you think should be there, try again with a different keyword.  Refer to the World Poll Reference Tool Info Sheet for more details. 
  3. The results page will show the QTAG (variable name), short and long-form text of the question, as well as the countries and years asked.  The variable types include sample, demographic, geographic, and topical. You can also view the Category and Subcategory of the question, which would be helpful to finding similar questions.  You can export a summary of the question information to Excel. 
  4. Note that general indicators like gender and age exist as their own QTAGs. 


 

Refer to the World Poll Methodology and Guides dataset below for documents describing best practices as well as in depth explanations of methodologies, variables, and other details.

Before using these datasets, please be aware of the following restrictions:

  • Only William & Mary faculty, staff, and students may download, use, and manipulate the data.
  • You may create reports and publish externally, redistribute, and manipulate such reports, so long as such externally distributed reports do not contain only Gallup data and so long as Gallup data are not included in a report in a quantity or specificity that could reasonably be deemed to be a substitute for acquiring the data from Gallup.
  • William & Mary affiliates may not share Gallup data with any third party. 
  • Reports must include attribution when Gallup data are included without modification or are used as a direct source of analysis. 
 

Dataset Files