Public Pessimism Regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic Continues to Decline

Indonesians have become accustomed to living under strict conditions during the year-long COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Public pessimism has gradually decreased, as shown in a Kompas Research and Development (Litbang Kompas) report released on Tuesday (March 2nd).

According to the survey results, 43.9% of respondents felt pessimistic due to the pandemic in June 2020. This number decreased to 34.8% in August 2020.

The number of respondents who were pessimistic due to the corona pandemic temporarily increased to 39.5% in December 2020. However, the figure fell again to 40.2% in February 2021.

Quoting Harian Kompas, public pessimism is caused by the economic crisis, which has reduced the quantity and quality of their needs. Lower and middle-income groups have had to focus on meeting their primary needs, neglecting secondary and tertiary needs.

The Litbang Kompas survey has been conducted periodically since June 2020. The latest data collection was carried out from February 23rd to 27th, 2021, surveying 1,007 respondents across 34 provinces. The confidence level is 95% with a margin of error of ± 3%.