Those on ideological right favor fewer COVID-19 restrictions in most advanced economies

In many countries around the world, government attempts to impose coronavirus-related restrictions on public activity have encountered resistance and mass protest movements aimed at lockdowns. With the fast-spreading delta variant threatening a new wave of infections among the unvaccinated and slow, unequal vaccine rollouts globally, governments may yet again be forced to consider implementing restrictions on public activity.

Majorities in most of the 17 advanced economies Pew Research Center surveyed in spring 2021 say the restrictions that had been imposed over the course of the pandemic were about right or that there should have been more restrictions. But significant minorities say there should have been fewer restrictions, suggesting they may be resistant to renewed lockdowns and social distancing requirements.

In most countries surveyed, those on the ideological right are particularly likely to say there should have been fewer restrictions on public activity over the course of the coronavirus outbreak. In keeping with previous findings, ideological divides between the left and right are largest in the United States with 52% of conservatives and 7% of liberals saying there should have been fewer restrictions. (The U.S. portion of the survey was conducted earlier than others, in early February.) Right-leaning people are significantly more likely to say restrictions went too far in nine other nations surveyed.