French are world's most pessimistic

THE FRENCH are the world's most pessimistic people when asked about their prospects for the coming year, a new international study has found.

The Voice of the People survey, by BVA-Gallup, polled more than 64,000 people in 53 countries around the world about their attitude to the new year.

France was the gloomiest of the countries surveyed, with 61 per cent of people expecting economic difficulties and unemployment to worsen in 2011.

Britain was the third most pessimistic, on 52 per cent, behind Iceland and tied with Serbia and Romania.

Germany was among the most optimistic of the EU member states, with 22 per cent of people expecting their situation to worsen.

Among the most optimistic countries were Vietnam, Nigeria, China, Ghana and Brazil.