Strong Economic Momentum Fuels Indian Optimism On Salaries, Living Standards For 2026: Ipsos Survey

According to Ipsos survey, Indian citizens remain hopeful of achieving tangible salary increases and improved financial stability in 2026

Ipsos Cost of Living Survey in its latest study has stated that Indians was the most optimistic population as most citizens believe an improvement of their standard of living in 2026.

According to an official statement, “Indians remain the most optimistic population globally when it comes to expectations of rising disposable incomes in 2026, outperforming all 30 markets surveyed. This sense of confidence is further reinforced by the fact that one in two citizens (51 percent) expect their standard of living to improve in the coming year.”

The study was based on interview of 23,772 adults aged 18 years and older in India, 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States, 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 in all other countries.

The study stated that the year 2025 had presented a difficult environment, characterized by a pronounced global economic slowdown, the ongoing geopolitical turbulence in Gaza and Ukraine, tightened and punitive trade policies implemented by the Trump administration, and recurring rounds of job cuts across industries.

“Despite these adverse conditions and the pressures they have placed on households and businesses, Indian citizens remain hopeful of achieving tangible salary increases and improved financial stability in 2026. This divergence between global pessimism and Indian optimism is a striking narrative emerging from the data,” it stated.

Ipsos India CEO Suresh Ramalingam said India’s economic trajectory plays a central role in shaping public sentiment.

“India continues to be one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world, recording GDP growth of more than 6.5 per cent and recently becoming the world’s fourth-largest economy. With its consistent performance and structural momentum, India is now firmly positioned on the path to becoming the third-largest economy by 2030,” he said.

He further stated that with a majority of the nation’s population under the age of 35, the youth demographic is playing a defining role, as more opportunities continue to open up in both traditional and emerging sectors of the job market.