ISLAMABAD - A recent exit poll indicates that year 2009 is being globally perceived as a gloomy year and the number of respondents agreeing to the perception has been greatest for the last forty years. According to a survey carried out by Gallup International in 46 countries covering all parts of the world, the year 2009 is being perceived as a gloomy year by more people as compared to any other year's survey since GI's End of Year Survey began some forty years ago. The survey further tells that globally the youth (under 30-year old) are less gloomy about the New Year than their elders. "Similarly the middle income homes are less gloomy than the other two ends of the household income spectrum, the poor on the one and rich on the other," says the poll. The survey was carried out in 46 countries, covering both North and South America, West and East Europe, the Middle East, West, South and East Asia, Africa and Australia. "The survey, which interviewed 5,441 men and women in the G8 countries shows that 37 per cent are gloomy about the year 2009. They think 2009 will be worse than the year 2008, which has just ended. Only 29 per cent are hopeful expecting it to be better, while 34 per cent believe there will be no change, or they do not know," reveals exit poll. As opposed to these populations in the newly emerging world economic powers, commonly known as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the people are less gloomy about the New Year. The hopefuls are 48 per cent, the gloomy are 22 per cent, while 30 per cent believe there will be no change, or they do not know. The figures collected from Muslim respondents are; hopeful 20 per cent, gloomy 28 per cent and 52 per cent believe there will be no change. As for age and income levels, the global figures are: 38 per cent of under 30 years are hopeful as opposed to only 22 per cent of those over the age of 65 years. In terms of income levels, men and women at the middle level of incomes in their respective countries are on the whole 7 per cent points more hopeful than either the poor at the one end and the rich at the other in their respective countries.