---
title: "Venezuelans gloomy about their standard of living, nation’s economy"
description: "Just a third of Venezuelans say their standard of living is improving, a record low. "
date: "2014-02-25"
authors:
  - name: "Bruce Drake"
    job_title: "Former Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/bruce-drake/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/02/25/venezuelans-gloomy-about-their-standard-of-living-nations-economy/"
---

# Venezuelans gloomy about their standard of living, nation’s economy

The [massive protests sweeping Venezuela](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/world/americas/in-venezuela-middle-class-joins-protests.html?hp&_r=0) come at a time when many in that country have an increasingly dark view of both their own standard of living and the direction of the nation’s economy.

A record low 33% of Venezuelans said their standard of living was improving, according to a [Gallup poll](http://www.gallup.com/poll/167564/venezuelans-rated-lives-worse-ahead-protests.aspx) conducted last fall and released Tuesday. Just a year earlier, 54% had said their standard of living was improving.

[![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/02/DN_Gallup_Venezuela.png)](http://www.gallup.com/poll/167564/venezuelans-rated-lives-worse-ahead-protests.aspx)

Pessimism about the economy also runs high. About six-in-ten (62%) Venezuelans said the economy was getting worse, a huge increase compared with the 22% who held that view in 2012.

Beyond the economy, [fear of crime](http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-30/venezuelas-high-crime-rate-hobbles-economy) contributes to Venezuelans’ unhappiness. In the Gallup poll, eight-in-ten said they did not feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where they lived, while those saying they *did* feel safe dropped from 34% in 2011 to 19%.