PERILS OF

PERCEPTION
2017
© 2016 Ipsos. All rights reserved. Contains Ipsos' Confidential and Proprietary information and may 
not be disclosed or reproduced without the prior written consent of Ipsos.

Perils of Perception | 2017 1

 These are the latest findings PERCEPTIONS
from the Ipsos Perils of
Perception survey. The ARE NOT
results highlight how wrong REALITY…
people across 38 countries
…THINGS ARE
are about some key issues
and features of the NOT AS BAD AS
population in their country THEY SEEM…

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 2

 MURDER RATE

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 3

Do you think the Country
higher
(average = 46)
about the same lower don’t know
(average = 30) (average = 7) (average = 15)
% change
(-29%)

murder rate in South Africa 85% 11% 4%1%  -29%

Mexico 76% 18% 3%3%
[COUNTRY] is higher,
 +57%
Brazil 76% 12% 3% 9%  0%
Peru 62% 24% 10% 5%  +44%

lower, or about the India

Argentina
60%
59%
23%
26%
11%
7% 8%
6% 

-29%
-11%

same as it was in 2000? Indonesia

Israel
53%
53% 23%
27%
12%
14%
13%
5% 

-50%
-42%
USA 52% 26% 13% 8%  -11%
Sweden 52% 36% 8% 4%  0%
Colombia 51% 28% 16% 5%  -60%
Italy 49% 35% 8% 8%  -39%
New Zealand 48% 31% 13% 9%  -31%

Only a small minority of France

Denmark
44%
43%
35%
32%
10%
19%
11%
7%


-11%
-9%
people in most countries think Netherlands
Serbia
41%
41%
32%
34%
19%
21%
8%
4%


-46%
-54%
the murder rate has declined Spain 40% 34% 19% 7%  -50%
Australia 38% 34% 17% 11%  -47%
in their country since 2000, Hong Kong 38% 34% 22% 7%  -50%
Canada 36% 34% 21% 8%
despite that being true in
 +6%
Great Britain 36% 39% 19% 7%  -29%
Belgium 35% 44% 10% 11%
most countries, and the
 -10%
Poland 35% 28% 21% 16%  -68%

overall rate across these Hungary

Norway
34%
34%
36%
40%
24%
20%
6%
5%


-25%
-46%

countries having declined by Singapore

Japan
34%
33%
31%
31% 18%
28%
18%
7% 

-78%
-40%

29%. Germany
China 23%
32%
30%
42%
32%
14% 12%
16%


-33%
-65%

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 4

 TERRORIST
DEATHS

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 5

 Actual Actual
In the 15-year period after more
(average = 34)
about the same
(average = 33)
less don’t know
(average = 19) (average = 14)
1985 - 2002 -
Country 2000 2016
the September 11th attacks France 65% 13% 6% 16%  123 270
(2002-2016) do you think Turkey 60% 18% 10% 12%  4227 2159
Belgium 51% 27% 7% 16%  24 41
there were more, less, or Philippines 49% 27% 17% 7%  4322 3468
Great Britain 47% 29% 15% 10%
about the same number of
 311 62
Norway 45% 32% 14% 9%  1 77

deaths caused by terrorist

Germany 44% 34% 8% 14%  51 36
India 44% 32% 18% 7%  10138 8174

attacks in [COUNTRY] Indonesia

Australia
42%
41%
25%
32%
26%
12% 15%
7% 

554
7
523
6

compared with the 15 year Sweden

South Korea
41%
40%
38%
37% 10%
13%
14%
7% 

6
7
5
0
period before the Brazil
USA
38%
37%
28%
29%
12%
22%
22%
13%


137
236
10
190
September 11th attacks Canada
Netherlands
36%
36%
38%
36%
13%
13%
14%
15%


348
7
8
10
(1985-2000)? The 15-year Denmark 35% 45% 7% 13%  2 3
Israel 34% 27% 22% 17%  438 814
period after the September Malaysia 33% 30% 21% 16%  31 12
Colombia 31% 37% 23% 8%
11th attacks we are asking
 10269 1792
Italy 31% 38% 19% 12%  60 4

you to think about is from

Spain 29% 22% 37% 12%  443 209
Japan 28% 35% 12% 25%  34 19

2002 to 2016 and does not Russia

South Africa
28%
27%
23%
32%
38%
26%
11%
14%


1218
2585
2803
44

include 2017. Chile

Singapore
26%
24%
35%
40%
26%
22%
13%
14%


139
5
3
0
Poland 23% 42% 14% 21%  7 0
Argentina 21% 31% 33% 15%  158 0
China 20% 34% 28% 18%  171 798
Very few people in most countries Hong Kong 19% 44% 25% 12%  4 0
New Zealand 18% 51% 16% 15%
think deaths from terrorist attacks 0 0

Peru 17% 26% 47% 10%  8222 110
are lower in recent years, despite Hungary 15% 48% 23% 15%  3 2

that being the case in most

countries.
Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 6

 IMMIGRANT
PRISONERS

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 7

 Avg. guess Actual
Out of every 100 Country too low % point difference too high (28) (15)

prisoners in
Netherlands +32% 51 19.1
South Africa +31% 37 6.3
France +28% 49 21.7
[COUNTRY], about how USA
New Zealand
+27%
+25%
32
27
5.2
1.9
many do you think Argentina
Great Britain
+25%
+23%
31
34
6.2
11.8

were born in a foreign Peru

Australia
+22%
+21%
24
40
2.1
18.7

country?
Singapore +21% 30 9.9
Mexico +20% 21 1.2
Denmark +19% 47 28.0
Russia +18% 23 4.3
Brazil +18% 18 0.4
Chile +18% 21 3.4
Most countries greatly Philippines
Norway
+17%
+16%
17 0.4
50 33.8
overestimate the proportion India +16% 17 1.5
Indonesia +16% 16 0.6
of prisoners in their country Colombia +15% 15 0.8
Italy +14% 48 34.4
that are immigrants, with the Japan +14% 19 5.6
+14%
Netherlands, South Africa,
Germany 45 31.3
Turkey +13% 16 2.1

France and the USA Spain

Poland
+12%
+11%
40
12
28.2
1.0

particularly likely to guess too Hungary

China
+11%
+11%
16
11
4.9
0.4
high. Belgium
Serbia
+9%
+8%
54
11
45.0
3.5
South Korea +8% 11 3.5
Israel +3% 42 38.9
Malaysia +2% 31 29.1
Sweden +1% 32 30.9
Montenegro +1% 16 15.1
Hong Kong -14% 16 29.9
Saudi Arabia -46% 26 72.0

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 8

 TEENAGE
BIRTHS

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 9

 Avg. guess Actual

What percentage of
Country too low % point difference too high (20) (2)

Brazil +41 48 6.7

women and girls aged South Africa
Colombia
+40
+39
44
44
4.4
4.9

15 to 19 in [COUNTRY] Mexico
Peru +34
+39 45
39
6.2
4.8

do you think give birth

Philippines +34 40 6.3
Argentina +31 37 6.4
Chile +30 35 4.8
each year? Japan
Malaysia
+27
+26
27
27
0.4
1.4
Indonesia +25 30 4.9
India +24 26 2.3
Turkey +23 26 2.7
USA +22 24 2.1
All countries overestimate Canada +19 20 0.9
Russia +18 20 2.3
teenage births, and many are Great Britain +18 19 1.4
France +17 18 0.9
hugely wrong, particularly in Australia +17 18 1.2
New Zealand
Latin America and +17 19 2.3
Italy +16 17 0.6

South Africa. Hungary

Germany
+16
+15
18
16
1.8
0.6
Montenegro +15 16 1.2
Poland +15 16 1.3
But even countries with very Belgium
Spain
+14
+14
15
15
0.8
0.8
low levels of teenage births Serbia
Netherlands
+13
+11
15
12
1.9
0.4
overestimate significantly. For China
Singapore
+11
+11
12
11
0.7
0.4
example, actual rates are Sweden
Israel
+10 11
11
0.6
0.9
+10
under 1% in Canada and Hong Kong +10 10 0.3
South Korea +8 8 0.2
France but the average guess Denmark +8 8 0.4
Norway +7 8 0.6
is that one in five teenagers
get pregnant each year. Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 10

 VACCINES
AND AUTISM

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 11

 % saying true % saying don’t know % saying false

Do you think the

Country (average = 20) (average = 38) (average = 42)

Montenegro 44% 30% 26%

following statement is India

Turkey 31%
44%
47%
36% 20%
22%

true or false? South Africa

Malaysia
30%
30%
35%
35%
34%
34%
Israel 29% 35% 36%
Philippines 28% 33% 39%

Some vaccines cause

Serbia 27% 40% 34%
Sweden 25% 24% 52%
Saudi Arabia 24% 51% 25%
autism in healthy Indonesia
Hong Kong
23%
22%
32%
50%
45%
28%
children Denmark
Singapore
22%
20%
36%
48%
42%
32%
Great Britain 20% 35% 45%
USA 19% 29% 52%
China 19% 50% 31%
19% 52% 30%
Nearly six in ten people across
South Korea
Norway 18% 23% 59%
17% 38% 45%
the countries as a whole say Poland
France 17% 48% 35%

they are unsure or believe that Peru

Canada
17%
16% 32%
39%
52%
45%

there is a link between Chile

New Zealand
16%
16%
31%
31%
53%
53%
vaccines and autism in healthy Colombia
Italy
14%
14%
44%
38%
42%
48%
children, despite the claim Mexico
Russia
14%
14%
28%
47%
58%
39%
being widely discredited. Australia 14% 27% 59%
Japan 12% 63% 25%
Germany 12% 36% 52%
Netherlands 11% 40% 49%
Some countries, particularly Brazil 10% 35% 54%
10% 28%
Montenegro and India, have Argentina 62%
Hungary 10% 42% 48%

very high levels of belief in the Belgium

Spain
9%
8% 39%
51%
53%
40%

claim. Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 12

 DIABETES

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 13

 Avg. guess Actual

Out of every 100

Country too low % point difference too high (34) (8)

Philippines +38% 45 7
people aged 20-79 in India
Brazil
+38%
+37%
47
47
9
10

[COUNTRY], about how Peru

Indonesia
+35%
+34%
42
40
7
7

many do you think

South Africa +33% 41 8
Chile +33% 43 10
Mexico +31% 47 16
have diabetes? Argentina
Italy
+30%
+30%
36
35
6
5
Malaysia +29% 47 18
Colombia +29% 39 10
Turkey +27% 40 13
Australia +27% 32 5
Hungary +27% 34 7
People in every country France
Belgium
+26% 31 5
+25% 30 5
overestimate the extent of Poland +25% 31 6
South Korea +25% 29 4
diabetes in their country, with Singapore +25% 35 11

some thinking nearly half of

Germany +24% 31 7
Israel +24% 31 8

their population have the Spain

USA
+23%
+23%
31
34
8
11

condition. Canada
Great Britain
+23%
+22%
30
27
7
5
Saudi Arabia +22% 42 20
Serbia +22% 32 10
Japan +21% 27 6
New Zealand +21% 28 7
Netherlands +21% 26 6
Hong Kong +20% 28 8
Montenegro +18% 29 11
China +16% 26 10
Denmark +16% 23 7
Sweden +15% 20 5
Russia +15% 24 9
Norway +11% 17 6

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 14

 SUGAR

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 15

 Grams per
In which 3 of these Country % mentions of each country in top 3 across all participants capita per day Rank

countries do you think USA

Great Britain 20%
58% 126
93
1
6

people consume the Germany 12% 103 2

France 12% 69 16

most sugar per person?

China 12% 51 24
Mexico 10% 93 7
Canada 10% 89 8
Please rank your Brazil 10% 48
96
25
4
Australia 9%
answers in order, using Italy
India
8%
8%
58
5
18
35
number 1 to indicate Turkey
Russia
8%
8%
35
20
28
32
the country where Spain
Japan
7%
5%
70
57
15
20

people consume the Indonesia

Belgium
5%
5%
15
95
33
5

most sugar per person. Saudi Arabia

Argentina
5%
5%
81
73
12
14
Malaysia 4% 33 29
Netherlands 4% 103 3
Hong Kong 4% 54 22
Sweden 4% 86 9
The USA is correctly seen as Colombia
South Africa
4%
4%
36
42
27
26
the most sugar consuming New Zealand 3% 83 11
Denmark 3% 75 13
country, but some countries Chile 3% 59 17

are mentioned despite being South Korea

Poland
3%
3%
31
57
31
19
lower down the ranking, like Singapore
Peru
3%
3%
32
56
30
21
Great Britain and France. Hungary 3% 51 23
Israel 2% 15 34
Norway 2% 83 10

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 16

 Grams per
The USA, Canada, Great Country % of people in each country who correctly guessed USA as number 1 capita per day Rank

Britain and New USA

Canada 65%
69% 126
89
1
8

Zealand are the most Great Britain

New Zealand
62%
60%
93
83
6
11

likely to correctly guess France

Israel
56%
56%
69
15
16
34

that the USA is the Australia

Spain
54%
54%
96
70
4
15

highest consumer of Colombia

South Africa
52%
51%
36
42
27
26

sugar per person. Italy

Sweden
49%
48%
58
86
18
9
Argentina 47% 73 14
Japan 45% 57 20
Russia 42% 20 32
Belgium 42% 95 5
Denmark 40% 75 13
Peru 40% 56 21
Chile 37% 59 17
Hong Kong 37% 54 22
Singapore 36% 32 30
Brazil 35% 48 25
Mexico 35% 93 7
South Korea 34% 31 31
Germany 34% 103 2
Poland 33% 57 19
China 25% 51 24
Indonesia 22% 15 33
Turkey 22% 35 28
India 18% 5 35
Malaysia 15% 33 29
Saudi Arabia 15% 81 12
Hungary 4% 51 23

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 17

 Grams per
Mexico is most likely to Country % of people who picked their own country in the top 3 capita per day Rank

name their own Mexico 84% 93 7

USA 83% 126 1
country in the top 3 Great Britain
Malaysia
73% 93 6
70% 33 29
highest sugar Australia
Canada
68% 96 4
68% 89 8
consuming countries in Brazil
Chile
65% 48
59
25
17
64%
the world, closely South Africa
India
62%
62%
42
5
26
35
followed by the USA. Germany
Indonesia
60%
58%
103
15
2
33
Turkey 57% 35 28
New Zealand 56% 83 11
France 56% 69 16
Denmark 55% 75 13
Argentina 52% 73 14
Israel 51% 15 34
Spain 50% 70 15
Hungary 49% 51 23
Russia 48% 20 32
Sweden 47% 86 9
Saudi Arabia 46% 81 0
Italy 44% 58 18
Netherlands 43% 103 3
South Korea 43% 31 31
Peru 42% 56 21
China 40% 51 24
Colombia 40% 36 27
Belgium 37% 95 5
Poland 37% 57 19
Singapore 31% 32 30
Japan 27% 57 20
Hong Kong 20% 54 22
Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 18

 ALCOHOL

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 19

 Litres of pure
Country alcohol per
In which 3 of these mentioned % mentions of each country in top 3 across all participants capita per year Rank

countries do you think Russia 43% 10.12 7

USA 31% 8.82 13
Germany 28% 11.03 3
people consume the Great Britain
France 16%
19% 10.66
11.5
6
2

most alcohol per Poland

Mexico 10%
12% 10.71
5.26
5
28

person? Please rank Italy

Spain 8%
8% 7.56
9.25
18
11
9.7 8
your answers in order,
Australia 7%
Brazil 6% 7.32 21
Serbia 6% 9.09 12
using number 1 to China
Netherlands 5%
6% 5.78
8.68
26
15

indicate the country Sweden

Denmark
5%
5%
7.3
9.64
22
9

where people consume Canada 5% 8.1 16

Hungary 4% 10.88 4
4% 7.55 19
the most alcohol
Japan
South Korea 4% 9.33 10
Norway 4% 5.97 25

per person. Belgium

Argentina
4%
3%
12.6
7.93
1
17
Colombia 3% 4.38 30
Chile 3% 7.16 23
New Zealand 3% 8.7 14

Russia is seen as the booziest Montenegro

South Africa
3%
3%
6.56
7.38
24
20
nation in the world, when Turkey
Hong Kong
3%
2%
1.45
2.86
35
32
actually they only rank 7th out India 2%
2%
3.07
5.38
31
27
Peru
of the 38 countries. Very few Philippines 2% 4.52
1.79
29
34
Singapore 2%
people pick out the actual top Israel 1% 2.62
0.09
33
37
1%
country, Belgium.
Saudi Arabia
Indonesia 1% 0.09 37
1% 0.52 36
Malaysia

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 20

 Litres of pure
alcohol per
Even Belgians are Country % of people in each country correctly guessing Belgium number 1 capita per year Rank

unlikely to pick Belgium

Japan 3%
5% 12.6
7.55
1
19

themselves as the
Brazil 2% 7.32 21
Colombia 2% 4.38 30

highest alcohol
USA 2% 8.82 13
Malaysia 2% 0.52 36

consumers. Only 5%
Singapore 2% 1.79 34
France 1% 11.5 2

do.
Australia 1% 9.7 8
Philippines 1% 4.52 29
Germany 1% 11.03 3
Great Britain 1% 10.66 6
New Zealand 1% 8.7 14
Peru 1% 5.38 27
Canada 1% 8.1 16
Turkey 1% 1.45 35
Russia 1% 10.12 7
Argentina 1% 7.93 17
Mexico 1% 5.26 28
Italy 1% 7.56 18
Spain 1% 9.25 11
Chile 1% 7.16 23
South Africa 1% 7.38 20
Hong Kong 1% 2.86 32
India 1% 3.07 31
Israel 1% 2.62 33
Indonesia 1% 0.09 37
Poland *% 10.71 5
China *% 5.78 26
Denmark *% 9.64 9
South Korea *% 9.33 10
Hungary *% 10.88 4
Serbia *% 9.09 12
Montenegro *% 6.56 24
Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources. *indicates a value between 0 and 0.5

Perils of Perception | 2017 21

 Litres of pure
alcohol per
Denmark, Great Britain, Country % of people who picked their own country in the top 3 capita per year Rank

Poland, Russia and Denmark 62% 9.64 9

Great Britain 60% 10.66 6
59%
Australia all have
Poland 10.71 5
Russia 59% 10.12 7
Australia 58% 9.7 8
strong self-images as South Korea
USA
54%
53%
9.33
8.82
10
13
boozy nations, with Chile
Mexico
53%
50%
7.16
5.26
23
28
around six in ten in Hungary
Brazil
49%
49%
10.88
7.32
4
21

each picking their own South Africa

Serbia
49%
47%
7.38
9.09
20
12

country as one of top 3 France

Germany 36%
41% 11.5
11.03
2
3

alcohol consumers.
China 35% 5.78 26
Colombia 35% 4.38 30
New Zealand 34% 8.7 14
Spain 32% 9.25 11
Peru 29% 5.38 27
Montenegro 28% 6.56 24
Canada 26% 8.1 16
Philippines 25% 4.52 29
India 25% 3.07 31
Argentina 23% 7.93 17
Belgium 21% 12.6 1
Netherlands 18% 8.68 15
Sweden 16% 7.3 22
Italy 13% 7.56 18
Turkey 13% 1.45 35
Israel 10% 2.62 33
Japan 6% 7.55 19
Hong Kong 6% 2.86 32
Singapore 5% 1.79 34
Indonesia 4% 0.09 37
Malaysia 4% 0.52 36
Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 22

 HEALTH RATING

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 23

When asked in a survey Country too low % point difference too high
Avg. guess
(53)
Actual
(70)
in [COUNTRY], out of Japan +12% 47 35

every 100 people,

Philippines +1% 58 57
Peru 0 54 54
Russia -1% 38 39
about how many do Mexico
Germany
-6%
-9%
56
56
62
65

you think said their Poland

Norway
-10%
-11%
48
65
58
76

own health was very

Chile -11% 48 59
France -12% 55 67
China -13% 56 69
good or good? Italy
South Africa
-14%
-14%
52
53
66
67
Spain -14% 57 71
Denmark -15% 57 72
Netherlands -15% 61 76
Nearly all countries think India
Hong Kong
-16%
-17%
54
41
70
58
people report their own Israel -17%
-18%
63
57
80
75
Argentina
health as much worse than Belgium -18% 56 74
Hungary -19% 38 57
they actually say in surveys, Great Britain -19% 55 74
Turkey -20% 48 68
and some hugely so, Sweden -22% 59 81
35 58
particularly in South Korea
Serbia -23%
Singapore -26% 55 81

and New Zealand. Brazil

Canada
-28%
-28%
42
61
70
89
Colombia -28% 48 76
Australia -29% 56 85
USA -29% 59 88
Malaysia -32% 55 87
New Zealand -35% 55 90
South Korea -41% 39 80

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 24

 SUICIDE

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 25

Out of every 100 Country too low % point difference too high
Avg. guess
(20)
Actual
(17)
deaths of women and South Africa +26% 26 0.6

girls aged 15 to 24 in
Brazil +24% 29 4.3
Mexico +18% 25 7.3
Peru +17% 23 6.2
[COUNTRY], about how Colombia
Philippines
+16%
+16%
23
20
7.2
3.5

many do you think Italy

Turkey
+11%
+10%
20
20
9.5
9.6

were by suicide?
USA +10% 23 12.9
France +9% 27 17.7
Serbia +7% 11 4.1
Chile +7% 22 14.9
Argentina +5% 18 12.7
Canada +5% 26 21.2
Montenegro +5% 11 6.3
Israel +4% 15 10.8
There is a real split in accuracy Russia
Denmark
+4%
+4%
16
16
11.8
12.1
about the proportion of Hungary +3%
+2%
12
21
9.0
18.5
Great Britain
deaths by suicide among Germany +1% 18 16.8
Belgium +1% 21 20.0
young women. Some Spain 0 17 16.3
Poland 0 13 13.1
countries hugely overestimate Australia -3% 26 28.9
26 32.8
(South Africa and Brazil), some
Sweden -7%
Netherlands -8% 16 24.3

are pretty close, and some Norway

New Zealand
-10%
-11%
19
26
29.3
37.3

hugely underestimate the Singapore

Japan
-16%
-17%
18
25
34.1
42.4

significance of the issue in South Korea

Hong Kong -36%
-30% 14
14
44.1
50.0
their country (Hong Kong and
South Korea). In most countries we have used a source for the actual number of deaths that were by suicide that defines suicide as death by intentional self-harm (ICD-10 codes X60-
X84). In the UK, we have used a source that defines suicide as death by intentional self-harm and also death caused by undetermined intent (ICD-10 codes Y10-Y34). This
is because this is the definition of suicide used widely in the UK.

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 26

Out of every 100 Country too low % point difference too high
Avg. guess Actual
(20) (20)
deaths of men and South Africa +26% 27 1.1

boys aged 15 to 24 in
Brazil +25% 29 3.3
Colombia +18% 24 5.5
Peru +18% 22 4.3
[COUNTRY], about how Philippines
Mexico
+17%
+17%
22
26
4.3
8.5

many do you think Turkey

France +7%
+13% 20
24
6.6
16.9

were by suicide?
Italy +6% 20 13.6
USA +5% 24 19.3
Israel +4% 16 11.1
Argentina +4% 19 15.3
Sweden +4% 25 21.7
Montenegro +3% 12 8.8
Chile +2% 22 20.7
Spain +1% 16 15.9
There is also a real split in Canada
Serbia
-1%
-1%
26
12
26.5
13.0
accuracy about the proportion Russia -3% 15
25
18.8
28.4
Great Britain -4%
of deaths by suicide among Australia -5% 30 35.3
Norway -5% 21 26.0
young men. Again, some Germany -5% 18 23.1
Belgium -6% 21 27.3
countries hugely overestimate Singapore -9% 18 27.0
16 27.6
(South Africa and Brazil), some
Netherlands -12%
Hungary -12% 12 23.7

are pretty close, and some New Zealand

Poland
-12%
-13%
29
15
41.5
28.2

hugely underestimate the Denmark

Japan
-15%
-20%
15
27
30.1
47.1

significance of the issue in South Korea

Hong Kong
-21%
-24%
13
14
34.1
38.4
their country (Hong Kong,
South Korea and Japan). In most countries we have used a source for the actual number of deaths that were by suicide that defines suicide as death by intentional self-harm (ICD-10 codes X60-X84). In
the UK, we have used a source that defines suicide as death by intentional self-harm and also death caused by undetermined intent (ICD-10 codes Y10-Y34). This is because
this is the definition of suicide used widely in the UK.

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 27

 SMARTPHONE
OWNERSHIP

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 28

 Country Avg. guess Actual
Out of every 100 mentioned too low % point difference too high (84) (58)

people in [COUNTRY],
Indonesia +65% 85 21
Philippines +63% 86 23
India +52% 74 22
about how many do Colombia
Brazil
+48%
+47%
84
85
35
38
you think own a Peru
South Africa
+45%
+44%
81
80
36
36

smartphone? Mexico
China
+39%
+38%
79
89
41
52
Argentina +37% 86 48
Hungary +36% 82 46
Turkey +35% 85 50
Chile +33% 89 56
Malaysia +27% 91 64
Italy +25% 91 66
Nearly every country Saudi Arabia
Israel
+25% 90 65
+24% 90 66
overestimates smartphone Russia +22% 77 55
Spain +21% 88 67
ownership in their country, Japan +20% 70 50
Hong Kong +20% 92 72
with some incredibly high Netherlands +18% 87 69

estimates, particularly in
Poland +18% 81 63
Germany +17% 86 69

Indonesia and the Philippines. France

Australia
+17%
+17%
82
84
65
68
Serbia +16% 67 51
South Korea +15% 86 72
Belgium +15% 82 67
Great Britain +13% 81 69
USA +12% 81 69
Canada +11% 81 70
Sweden +9% 81 72
Norway +3% 86 83
Singapore +2% 92 90
Denmark -2% 87 89
85 21
The ‘actual’ data for this question is based on a model by Newzoo. Ipsos opted to use a model based-approach as estimates of smartphone ownership vary significantly
across sources, and online surveys can provide high estimates due to the association between internet access and smartphone ownership. Please see
http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 29

 FACEBOOK

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 30

 Avg. guess Actual
Country too low % point difference too high (75) (46)
Out of every 100 India +56% 64 8

people aged 13 and Indonesia

South Africa
+53%
+53%
81
73
28
20

over in [COUNTRY],
Philippines +49% 87 38
Russia +45% 51 6
Poland +41% 73 32
about how many do Peru
Colombia
+41%
+39%
84
83
44
43

you think have a Germany

Saudi Arabia
+37%
+37%
72
67
34
30

Facebook account?
Brazil +36% 83 47
Italy +33% 76 43
Mexico +33% 79 46
South Korea +32% 60 27
Hungary +30% 78 48
Malaysia +29% 84 55
Every country significantly Turkey +29% 80 52
Israel +27% 80 54
overestimates the proportion Spain +25% 75 50
+25% 85 60
of their population with
Chile
Argentina +24% 84 60

Facebook accounts, with some Montenegro +23% 74 52

Netherlands +21% 75 54

incredibly high estimates in France

Canada
+21%
+20%
68
77
47
56

some countries, particularly in Japan

Serbia
+20%
+20%
38
72
17
52
India, Indonesia and South Belgium
Denmark
+19%
+19%
71
80
52
61
Africa. Australia
New Zealand
+18%
+17%
77
76
59
59
USA +17% 75 58
Sweden +17% 72 55
Hong Kong +17% 82 65
Great Britain +16% 74 58
Singapore +16% 83 67
Norway +16% 76 60

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 31

 VEHICLES

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 32

 Avg. guess Actual
For every 100 people in Country too low % point difference too high (66) (46)

Philippines +53%
[COUNTRY], how many
61 8
Saudi Arabia +51% 75 24
India +50% 62 13
registered vehicles do Chile
Peru
+46%
+46%
71
60
24
14

you think there are? South Africa

Israel
+43%
+39%
62
75
19
35
Colombia +39% 60 21
Montenegro +37% 69 32
Indonesia +36% 77 41
Singapore
Most countries significantly +35% 53 18
Serbia +30% 60 30

overestimate the number of Mexico

Brazil
+28%
+27%
62
68
34
40

registered vehicles in their Hungary

Hong Kong
+27%
+27%
64
33
37
7
country, although people in China
Turkey
+26%
+25%
44
49
18
24
the US and Japan Russia
Netherlands
+21%
+16%
56
73
35
57
underestimate this. Great Britain
Denmark
+15%
+15%
71
67
56
52
Belgium +13% 75 63
France +12% 77 65
Argentina +12% 66 54
South Korea +10% 56 46
Germany +8% 73 65
Canada +7% 71 64
Spain +7% 76 69
New Zealand +2% 76 74
Sweden +2% 62 60
Australia 0 75 75
Malaysia -1% 80 80
Norway -4% 70 73
Poland -5% 61 65
Italy -6% 79 85
USA -13% 73 85
Japan -13% 58 72

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 33

 HEAVEN, HELL
& GOD

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 34

When asked in a survey Country too low % point difference too high
Avg. guess
(53)
Actual
(50)

in [COUNTRY], out of Japan

Belgium +19%
+23% 42
35
19
16

every 100 people, Spain

Argentina
+18%
+18%
49
57
31
75

about how many do

France +16% 40 24
Canada +16% 56 40
China +15% 29 14
you think say they Denmark
South Korea
+15%
+14%
35
44
20
30

believe in heaven? Sweden

Great Britain
+14%
+13%
32
45
18
32
Serbia +8% 50 42
Israel +8% 58 50
Australia +7% 49 42
There are a wide range of Norway
Hong Kong
+7% 37 30
+5% 45 40
different errors in guesses Mexico +5% 61 56
Russia +5% 48 43
about how many people Germany +3% 31 28
0
believe in heaven, with some Italy 48 48
USA 0 65 65

significantly overestimating Turkey

Hungary
-4%
-5%
84
42
88
47

belief (Japan), and some Brazil

Poland
-6%
-6%
70
56
76
62
underestimating (South Philippines
India
-12%
-12%
82
56
94
68
Africa). Colombia
Indonesia
-13%
-14%
67
85
80
99
Peru -15% 61 76
South Africa -17% 67 84

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 35

When asked in a survey Country too low % point difference too high
Avg. guess
(47)
Actual
(41)

in [COUNTRY], out of Japan

Spain
+25%
+24%
37
43
12
19

every 100 people, Canada

China
+20%
+20%
48
32
28
12

about how many do

Belgium +18% 27 9
Denmark +18% 24 6
Great Britain +17% 38 21
you think say they France
Sweden
+16%
+15%
35
24
19
9

believe in hell? South Korea

Australia
+13%
+11%
42
42
29
31
Israel +9% 52 43
Norway +8% 24 16
Germany +8% 20 12
There are also a wide range of Hong Kong
USA
+8% 46 38
+7% 60 53
different errors in guesses Colombia +7% 62 55
Serbia +6% 45 39
about how many people Mexico +5% 55 50
Argentina +5%
believe in hell, with some
52 57
Russia +5% 46 41

significantly overestimating Hungary

South Africa -1%
0 40
59
40
60

belief (Japan and Spain), and Italy

Brazil -5%
-2% 42
63
44
68
some underestimating Poland
Turkey
-5%
-5%
51
83
56
88
(Indonesia). India
Peru -9%
-7% 52
56
59
65
Philippines -11% 74 85
Indonesia -17% 82 99
Japan

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 36

When asked in a survey Country too low % point difference too high
Avg. guess
(59)
Actual
(65)

in [COUNTRY], out of Sweden

Japan
+15%
+14%
37
43
22
29

every 100 people, Belgium

South Korea +8%
+12% 41
46
29
38

about how many do

Norway +7% 43 36
Spain +7% 57 50
Denmark +7% 43 36
you think say they China
Great Britain
+6%
+4%
22
43
16
39

believe in God? Canada

France
+4%
+4%
59
47
55
43
Australia +3% 49 46
Russia -5% 60 65
Israel -5% 70 75
There are also a wide range of USA
Hungary
-8% 66 74
-8% 51 59
different errors in guesses Hong Kong -8% 41 49
Chile -9% 68 77
about how many people Serbia -10% 69 79
Philippines -11%
believe in God, with some
88 99
Turkey -11% 84 95

significantly overestimating Indonesia

Mexico
-12%
-13%
88
73
100
86

belief (Sweden and Japan), Peru

Colombia
-17%
-17%
75
80
92
97
and some significantly Brazil
Poland
-18%
-19%
80
66
98
85
underestimating (India). Italy
South Africa
-20%
-21%
56
70
76
91
Argentina -21% 70 91
Germany -22% 23 45
India -31% 66 97

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 37

 THE
MISPERCEPTIONS
INDEX

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 38

 LEAST ACCURATE

1
South Africa

2
Brazil

3
Philippines

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2016

4
Peru

5
India

6
Indonesia

7
Colombia

8
Mexico
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
Argentina
Italy
Chile
Japan
Malaysia
France
South Korea
Hungary
New Zealand
Netherlands
Hong Kong
Poland
USA
Russia
Germany
Australia
China
Singapore
Israel
Great Britain
Belgium
Canada
Serbia
Montenegro
MISPERCEPTIONS INDEX – WHO’S MOST WRONG?

Spain
Denmark
Norway
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Sweden

MOST ACCURATE
39
 Index rank (highest

Thinking about all the

Country confident in all of them rank = most wrong)
India 38% 5

answers you have Serbia

Philippines
35%
33%
35
3

given, how confident Peru

Turkey
33%
31%
4
11
31%
would you say you
Montenegro 36
Denmark 30% 32
Indonesia 29% 6
are…? Mexico
Russia
28%
28%
8
24
Argentina 25% 12
Colombia 25% 7
South Africa 24% 1
Saudi Arabia 22% 9
USA 22% 25
Despite being among the Malaysia
China
21%
21%
10
23
least accurate, respondents in Brazil
Chile
21%
21%
2
14
India, the Philippines and Peru Australia
France
15%
14%
28
17
are among the most confident Canada 14% 34
Poland 14% 22
in their answers. Israel 13% 30
Italy 12% 13
Spain 11% 31

In contrast Norway, Germany

New Zealand 11% 19
Hungary 10% 16

and Sweden come out among South Korea

Hong Kong
10%
9%
18
20
the most accurate in the Netherlands
Belgium
9%
9%
21
33
Index, but are among the least Singapore
Great Britain
8%
7%
29
26
confident in their answers. Sweden
Germany 5%
7% 38
27
Japan 4% 15
Norway 2% 37

Please see http://perils.ipsos.com/ for full details of all sources.

Perils of Perception | 2017 40

• These are the findings of the Ipsos MORI Perils of Perception • Approximately 1000 individuals aged 16-64 or 18-64 were
Survey 2017. 29,133 interviews were conducted between 28th surveyed in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hong
September – 19th October 2017. Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Montenegro, Norway, Russia,
Serbia, Spain, Great Britain, and the USA. Approximately 2000
• The survey is conducted in 38 countries around the world, via individuals aged 16-64 were surveyed in Germany.
the Ipsos Online Panel system in Argentina, Australia, Approximately 900 individuals aged 16-64 were surveyed in
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Netherlands. Approximately 500 individuals aged 16-64 were
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, surveyed in Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Denmark,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Hungary, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,
Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa,
Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Great Britain, and South Korea, Sweden, Turkey.
the USA. The following countries used either online or face-
to-face methodologies: Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway • The “actual” data for each question is taken from a variety of
and Serbia. verified sources. A full list of sources/links to the actual data
can be found here.

• Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears

to be+-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to
rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don't knows
or not stated responses.

• Data are weighted to match the profile of the population.

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 41

 PERILS OF
PERCEPTION
2017
For more information, please contact:
Bobby Duffy
Bobby.Duffy@ipsos.com
@BobbyIpsosMORI

James Stannard
James.Stannard@ipsos.com
@grabowskijs

PERILS OF PERCEPTION | 2017 42