According to a World Economic Forum (WEF) survey, interest in the Metaverse and virtual or augmented reality (VR/AR) is significantly higher in developing countries than developed countries.The WEF survey results were released on May 25 by market research firm Ipsos, demonstrating that Metaverse is now widely recognised: “52% of more than 21,000 adults surveyed across 29 countries are familiar with the Metaverse, and 50% have positive feelings about engaging with it in everyday life.”
China, India, Saudi Arabia, Peru, and Colombia were the top five countries with at least two-thirds of respondents expressing good views toward Metaverse usage. China had the most favourable impression about utilising a metaverse on a daily basis with 78% followed by India with 75%.
The countries with the lowest results, with less than one-third of respondents embracing the Metaverse, are primarily developed. Japan came in worst, with only 22% of respondents having a favourable view of Metaverse, followed by the United Kingdom (26%), Belgium (30%), Canada (30%), France (31%), and Germany (31%).
Respondents were also surveyed on which aspects of their lives they believe the Metaverse will have the greatest influence. Most respondents from South Africa, China, and India remarked that virtual learning, entertainment, digital socialising, and even applications like remote surgery will have a significant influence on people’s lives. The lowest percentages of respondents who felt that Metaverse applications will not significantly impact people’s lives were found in Japan, Belgium, and France.
According to an April research from crypto exchange Gemini, half of respondents in India, Brazil, and the Asia Pacific area acquired their first coin in 2021, indicating that developing nations are more passionate about crypto and blockchain in general.
The Gemini research report also argued that inflation and currency depreciation are the driving forces behind crypto adoption in such places, claiming that inhabitants of countries with 50% or more currency depreciation were five times more likely to plan to buy crypto than residents of nations with less inflation.
