Khaberni - The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Doha announced today the results of the Arab Index 2025, which was conducted in 15 Arab countries, namely: Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Syria, where the center conducted the first survey of its kind since the regime fell.
The index is a periodic survey maintained by the Arab Center since 2011 and aims to assess the public opinion trends in the Arab world towards a range of political, economic, and social issues.
The field survey included 40,130 respondents who were interviewed directly within representative samples of the countries they belong to, with a margin of error ranging between ±2 and 3%. It was implemented during the period October 2024 - August 2025. In its ninth cycle, it represents the largest public opinion survey in the Arab region in terms of sample size, its themes, and the number of countries it covers. A thousand researchers participated in its execution, taking more than 413,000 hours, and field researchers traveled more than a million kilometers to reach the areas featured in the sample across the Arab homeland. The continuation of conducting this massive survey, in addition to the variety of its topics, has made its data an important source for Arab and international research institutions, academics, and experts.
The results of the index are presented according to the surveyed countries and according to the general average of the Arab region. For comparison purposes, the data of the surveyed countries are classified according to the geographical regions of the Arab homeland, which are:
• The Maghreb: Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
• Nile Valley: Egypt and Sudan.
• The Levant: Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Syria.
• The Arabian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.
First: General Situations
The results showed that public opinion is optimistic about the direction of their countries; 57% of them said they are heading in the right direction, while 37% of respondents said things in their countries are heading in the wrong direction.
Those who reported that things are going in the wrong direction cited several reasons; 40% attributed this to economic reasons, 14% mentioned that the reason is poor and unstable political conditions, such as political confusion and the political regime not doing what it should do, and 9% stated that the reason is poor management and public policies of the state, and 7% pointed to general instability.
As for the respondents who said that their countries are going in the right direction, 19% of those who provided reasons said that the conditions in the country have improved, and 15% mentioned that the reason is the security and safety in their countries, 13% attributed the reason to good governance, and 7% to an improvement in the economic situation, and 5% to the availability of political stability, and 5% to optimism for the future.
55% of respondents stated that the political conditions in their countries are good (very good - good) in general, compared to 38% who said they are bad (bad - very bad). In contrast, 86% of respondents from the Arabian Gulf countries rated the political situation as good, while lower assessments were observed in other regions, especially in the Levant, where the percentage was 37%.
The Arab Index results revealed that the economic conditions of citizens in the Arab region are unsatisfactory; 41% said that their family incomes cover the expenses of their basic needs, and they cannot save from it (subsistence families), and 28% of respondents said that their families live in need and deprivation; their incomes do not cover the expenses of their needs. The majority of needy families rely on aid and borrowing to meet their needs.
Except for respondents from the Gulf countries, the majority of citizens of the Arab countries fall into the categories of "subsistence" or "needy" families.
Second: Evaluation of State Institutions and Government Performance
The results showed that citizens' trust in state institutions in their countries varies, while their trust is high, especially in the military and public security institutions, their trust in the state's judicial, executive, and legislative authorities is weaker than that. Legislative councils (parliament) received the lowest level of trust (51%). The results indicate that the evaluation of government performance in terms of foreign policy, economic policy, and a range of public policies and services is divided between positive and negative, and this evaluation approximately matches the public opinion assessment of government performance in previous surveys. The public opinion is almost unanimous that financial and administrative corruption is widespread in their countries; 84% said it is widespread to varying degrees.
In contrast, 11% stated that it is not widespread at all. The data, over nine surveys (since 2011), indicate that the perceptions and opinions of citizens towards the extent of corruption in their countries have not changed significantly. Respondents from the Levant are the most likely to affirm the spread of corruption in their countries, while the highest percentages who saw no spread of corruption were in the Gulf countries. Regarding citizens' views on their countries' equal enforcement of the law, 40% of respondents said that their countries enforce the law equally among the citizens, while 37% of them said that it enforces the law but favors some groups; that is, it discriminates in its favor, and 18% of them stated that it does not enforce the law equally at all. Respondents from the Levant reported higher percentages than others in the regions that the state in their countries does not apply the law equally among the people.
Third: The Position on Democracy
The results of the index showed that 83% of the citizens of the Arab region could provide a definition of democracy focusing on political and civil freedoms, power rotation, separation of powers, ensuring justice and equality. Public opinion is almost unanimously in favor of democracy; 68% of respondents expressed their support for the democratic regime, compared to 20% who opposed it.
67% of respondents stated that the multiparty democratic system is suitable for implementation in their countries. Meanwhile, the majority of public opinion (52% and 69%) rejected authoritarian regimes, regimes ruled by military, regimes ruled by Islamic parties only, systems based on Sharia without elections and parties, and systems restricted to secular parties. Comparing the results of this survey with previous surveys shows that the bias of public opinion towards democracy remains stable.
Respondents rated the level of democracy in their countries at 6.2 out of 10 points (on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 means undemocratic and 10 means fully democratic), indicating that democracy in the Arab world, according to their perspective, is still halfway there.
Evaluating the level of democracy through respondents' assessment of their ability to criticize the governments of their countries on a scale from 1 to 10 points showed that their ability to criticize is limited; they gave it 5.3 out of 10 points.
Although Arab public opinion supports democracy and prefers it over other systems, it is clear that political disengagement or "political apathy" is prevalent, as only 6% reported that they are affiliated with political parties, and 11% reported that they are members of voluntary associations, with about half of the citizens expressing no desire to participate in elections. This may be expected within the framework of limited political participation, or that available participation is not convincing to the citizen in terms of impact.
Fourth: Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, and Syria
In keeping with the tradition of the Arab Index of focusing on current issues, the 2025 index allocated a set of questions on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Sudan, which witnessed very significant events during the survey period.
An overview of Palestinian public opinion in the Gaza Strip
93% of the respondents in Gaza in the survey conducted in April 2025 stated that they were displaced from their homes to other places one or more times during the war period. 48% of the respondents said they live in a house/home (complete or damaged), while 24% said they live in tents, and 13% in public buildings (hospital, orphanage, school). Between 64-89% expressed the absence of electricity, internet, and medicines; meaning that these are absent for this percentage of respondents, compared to 11-36% who said they are available. 90% of respondents said that they were in need of medicine or medical supplies for themselves or a family member during the war period and did not find them. In addition, 85% said that they or a family member experienced hunger several times during the war. 81% said that they or a family member did not find drinking water several times during the war. 46-57% of respondents said that they were eyewitnesses to multiple cases involving individuals who had to beg to obtain food or water.
An overview of public opinion in Lebanon
10% of the respondents in Lebanon (in the survey conducted in March 2025) stated that one of their family members left Lebanon due to the war. Meanwhile, 76% of the respondents from the areas targeted in the war (southern Lebanon, the southern suburb... etc.) stated that they were forced to displace during the war period. 88% of the displaced respondents expressed that the area they displaced to was welcoming to them. About half of the respondents or more from the areas that were subjected to the war stated that basic foodstuffs were not available when they needed them. 41% said they did not receive healthcare or medicines when they needed them.
Overview of Sudanese public opinion on the current war in Sudan
47% of Sudanese respondents (in the survey conducted in November 2024) stated that they personally or with their families or some family members have been displaced since the conflict in Sudan erupted. Naturally, this figure does not include those who migrated from Sudan to other countries. 34% of respondents indicated that they were able to return to their homes, while 66% reported not returning until the time of conducting the survey.
Among those who are still displaced to areas outside their original residence, 38% explained that they live in the large family house or with relatives, 31% said they rent other homes, 15% live in shelters, and 11% live with acquaintances. Regarding the availability of some essentials, 58% of respondents indicated the availability of water, compared to 42% who reported its unavailability. 55% indicated the availability of electricity, while 58% reported the unavailability of essential foodstuffs. 71% of respondents stated that they were unable to obtain medicines, and 72% that they were unable to obtain medical care when needed.
34% of Sudanese respondents stated that their properties were looted. 89% of them said that the Rapid Support Forces were the ones who did this. 23% said their homes were breached, 18% said their homes were occupied. 17% of Sudanese respondents stated that they personally or a family member were assaulted, compared to 82% who did not experience this. 9% said they were arrested, and 4% were sexually harassed, and they were able to name the entity responsible for that.
An overview of the attitudes of Syrian public opinion
Between 80-94% of Syrian respondents in the survey conducted in August 2025 expressed feelings of hope, joy, happiness, and relief for the fall of the previous regime, while the percentage of those who expressed feelings of worry or uncertainty was less than that, with percentages ranging around 80%. On the general and economic conditions, Syrians stated that the most significant problems facing their country are related to the economic situation, security and political stability, and national unity. Specifically in terms of the economy, 36% of respondents indicated that their families rely on financial remittances from abroad, whether regular or irregular. The percentage of those who eat meat daily in Syria was 1%, while 16% stated that they eat meat a maximum of three times a week. Meanwhile, 89% said they eat meat once a month.
The public opinion assessment of a range of basic services in Syria tends to be negative, as 54% of respondents stated that the availability of foodstuffs is good, while less than a third rated the availability of healthcare, internet, water, and electricity as good.
On the subject of some political issues, respondents supported the establishment of political parties in Syria, including Syrian national political currents and Islamic political currents. They also supported the presence of Arab nationalist currents and civil liberal currents. The respondents rated the government's performance as good (more than 50%) in terms of ensuring freedom of expression, respecting human rights, and maintaining territorial unity, while the majority showed a negative evaluation of the government's performance regarding ending discrimination among citizens, ensuring political pluralism, and resolving armed factions. 65% of respondents supported holding accountable anyone involved in human rights violations, even if they were from the opposition. Regarding the nature of the state, 42% of the Syrian public opinion supported that the Syrian state should be a civil state, compared to 28% who preferred a religious state.
In the context of the discussion on the communal, cultural, and ethnic makeup in Syria, 64% of respondents believe that the Syrian people have succeeded over the years, to varying degrees, in melding into one family, compared to 12% who said that no such melding occurred. 19% of respondents believe that the most significant factor shaping the Syrian national identity is "the shared Syrian culture," followed by the Arabic language at 17%.
70% of respondents stated that "sectarian discourse" is prevalent in the country these days, and 84% believe that people classify themselves and others based on sectarian and religious lines in Syria.
66% of respondents believe that discrimination among people based on their sects and religions is widespread in the country. 57% think that discrimination among people according to their province is also prevalent. 41% of respondents believe that the tension between citizens according to sect or religion results from interventions by external entities, compared to 36% who see it as a result of a lack of citizenship and tolerance. Although Syrians acknowledged the existence of sectarian discourse, 66% of them said they do not differentiate in dealing with others regardless of their sect or religion, while 25% preferred dealing with people of the same sect. Syrians agreed by 66-78% that they do not mind having neighbors from other religions, sects, and ethnicities; this expresses a rejection of forms of discrimination.
70% of respondents oppose reaching an agreement with Israel without the return of the Syrian Golan, and 74% believe that Israel "is working to support certain groups in Syrian society to fuel separatist conflicts and threaten the territorial unity of Syria." Meanwhile, 88% believe that Israel "is working to threaten the security and stability in Syria."
Fifth: Opinion trends towards the Arab surrounding and the Palestinian cause
Regarding the Arab surrounding, the results showed that 76% of Arab public opinion believes that the inhabitants of the Arab homeland represent one nation, even if Arab peoples differ from each other, compared to 17% who said that they are different peoples and nations.
Arab public opinion is unanimous about the concept of "security of the Arab homeland," and it can identify sources of threat to this security. They unanimously agreed that both Israel (44%) and the United States (21%) represent the greatest threat to the security of the Arab region. The results showed that public opinion is almost unanimously, at 84%, aligned that Israel's policy threatens the security and stability of the region. They also agreed at 77% that American policy threatens the security of the region, and 53% regarding Iranian policy, while the percentage was 48% concerning Russian policy, and 47% regarding French policy. This clearly shows that public opinion sees Israel as the most significant threat to the stability and security of the region.
In the context of exploring respondents' views on the Palestinia
