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SALT LAKE CITY — About one in seven people worldwide thinks the end of the world will happen in their lifetime, according to a new poll.
Reuters reports another 10 percent think it could happen in 2012, due to the Mayan calendar, which covers about 5,125 years and ends on December 21, 2012. Some scholars dispute that interpretation, however.
Researchers questioned 16,262 people in 21 countries for the data. In France, only 6 percent of respondents believed in impending doom, compared to 22 percent in Turkey and the United States.
U.S. 22%
South Africa 21%
Argentina 19%
Mexico 19%
Indonesia 19%
France 6%
Belgium 7%
Great Britain 8%
Sweden 11%
Researcher Keren Gottfried told Reuters those who believe the end is near vary in what they think will lead to it - some believe it will be a religious event, others a political event or a natural disaster. She also said less educated, lower income, and younger respondents were most likely to believe they'd see the end of the world in their lifetime.
When it comes to stressing about it, those in Russia appear to have the highest level of anxiety (14 percent), followed by Poland (13 percent), China (12 percent), Turkey (11 percent) and Japan (11 percent).
Ipsos Global Public Affairs conducted the poll for Reuters.