Health, education, and unemployment are the leading concerns among Portuguese-speaking countries.

247 - Health, education, and unemployment emerge as the main problems faced by Portuguese-speaking countries, according to the perception of their own citizens. This diagnosis is part of the Lusophony Barometer, a groundbreaking survey that maps the values, opinions, and expectations of the population on central themes of public life, such as democracy, gender inequality, immigration, fake news, and cultural exchange.

Officially launched in January 2026, the study is led by Ipespe – the Institute for Social, Political and Economic Research – and analyzes aspects of culture, society, and institutions in Portuguese-speaking nations across four continents. The data shows that deficiencies in public services and difficulties in economic inclusion are at the heart of the population's concerns.

According to Antonio Lavareda, director-general of the Barometer and president of the Scientific Council of Ipespe, the results reveal a common pattern among the countries surveyed. “The Barometer reveals that the main concerns of citizens in Portuguese-speaking countries are linked to the quality of public services and the conditions of economic inclusion. Secondly, issues such as violence, inflation, and access to water, energy, and basic sanitation emerge.”He says.

Although there is convergence on the major challenges, the hierarchy of problems varies from country to country. In Brazil, for example, health (45%), violence (40%), and education (35%) lead the ranking of national concerns. The study notes that, after the mega police operation against criminal factions carried out by the Rio de Janeiro government in the Alemão and Penha complexes at the end of October 2025, the issue of security gained greater prominence in the public debate. In this context, it cannot be ruled out that the 8% recorded for politics, wars, or armed conflicts are associated with the same perception of insecurity.

The survey also draws attention to the assessment of how democracy functions. On average, 57% of respondents in Portuguese-speaking countries say they are not satisfied with the democratic regime in their countries. Timor-Leste and Portugal stand out from the pattern: they are the only ones where the majority of the population says they are satisfied, with rates of 75% and 61%, respectively.

Another point analyzed is electoral participation. In most countries, respondents claim to vote frequently, although this data is not always confirmed by official turnout figures. On average, 63% say they always vote and 13% say they vote most of the time. Only 11% say they rarely vote and 9% say they never vote. Brazil, the only country in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) with mandatory voting, has the highest level of declared participation: 88% say they always vote and another 5% say they vote most of the time.

The Lusophone Barometer also investigated the spread of fake news. According to the study, 64% of respondents say they have already received fake news. Portugal (83%) and Brazil (80%) lead this ranking, followed by Angola and Mozambique (both with 71%) and Guinea-Bissau (67%). The percentages are lower in Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe (49% each) and in Timor-Leste (40%). According to the survey analysis, these lower numbers do not necessarily indicate a lower incidence of misinformation, but may reflect greater difficulty in identifying the problem in certain regional contexts.

For this first edition, 5.688 interviews were conducted in a simultaneous survey involving countries in Africa — Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe —, South America, including Brazil, Asia, including Timor-Leste, and Europe, including Portugal. The geographical scope is one of the study's distinguishing features, as it seeks to offer a comparative portrait of contemporary Lusophony.

The central objective of the Barometer is to contribute to strengthening integration among Portuguese-speaking countries, deepening understanding of shared perceptions and values. The study also highlights the strategic role of Portuguese, a language spoken by approximately 300 million people and considered one of the most widespread in the world in terms of native speakers, with growth projections indicating more than 500 million speakers by the year 2100.

The survey results led to a book, in print and digital versions, as well as a series of seminars in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. The resulting database is being made available to hundreds of educational and research institutions through the Association of Portuguese-Speaking Universities (AULP), allowing students, professors, and researchers to develop dissertations, theses, articles, and other academic publications.

The Lusophony Barometer has the support and participation of several institutions, including the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, AULP, the United Nations Development Programme, the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, Brazilian and foreign universities, foundations and research centers, reinforcing the scientific and collaborative nature of the initiative.