Nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime and 10 percent think the Mayan calendar could signify it will happen in 2012, according to a new poll.
The end of the Mayan calendar - spanning about 5,125 years - on Dec 21, 2012, has fuelled interpretations and suggestions that it marks the end of the world.
"Whether they think it will come to an end through the hand of God, or a natural disaster or a political event - whatever the reason - one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming," said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs, which conducted the poll for Reuters.
Responses to the international poll of 16,262 people in more than 20 countries varied widely, with only 6 percent of French residents believing in an impending Armageddon in their lifetime, compared to 22 percent in Turkey and the United States, and slightly less in South Africa and Argentina.
But only 7 percent in Belgium and 8 percent in Britain feared an end to the world during their lives. About one in 10 people globally also said they were experiencing fear or anxiety about the impending end of the world in 2012. The greatest numbers were in Russia and Poland, the fewest in Britain.
Ipsos questioned people in China, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, France, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Italy, South Africa, Britain, Indonesia and Germany.
Questions:
1. What percentage of people polled worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime?
2. How many people were polled?
3. In how many countries?
Answers:
1. 15%.
2. 16,262.
3. More than 20.