The Gallup World Poll

Abstract

The Gallup World Poll, funded entirely by Gallup, is the largest multinational survey ever undertaken. It is an ongoing survey and in its first year data was collected from more than 130 countries and areas representing 95% of the world population age 15 and older. In developed countries, the GWP uses an RDD design and in the developing world an area frame design with face-to-face interviewing. In 2007, the GWP expanded to include 142 countries. The critical design features of the GWP are (1) standardized methodology to facilitate county and time comparisons, (2) representative sampling generally covering each country's population age 15 and older, and (3) the use of dichotomous response categories to reduce cultural and translation biases.