We often find something to complain about when it comes to our country. Whether it's about the government, taxes, bureaucracy, the weather, and so on and so forth - there is hardly a subject that isn’t whined about. But is the rest of the world greener? On the contrary - everywhere, from the East to the West, from the richest and largest countries to the smallest and poorest - citizens will always have something to complain about. So to put things into proportion and to clarify the issues that plague different countries on the globe, we compiled the most common complaints in 17 countries around the world.
The Muslim country in the Caucasus region has enjoyed economic and tourism growth in recent years, but its residents complain of nepotism. Azerbaijani citizens complain that it is not enough just to be qualified for a job, but that it’s also important to be close to an insider.
Corruption is one of the most common complaints among Romania's citizens, according to the International Transparency Organization's index. The country ranks fourth in the corruption index in Europe, and the state's anti-corruption commission has revealed that in 2014 alone there were more than 1,000 cases of politicians, judges, and businessmen involved in the country's greed industry. The most common offenses are bribery, embezzlement of public funds, money laundering, threats, the inappropriate conduct of public figures, exploitation of public power, tax evasion and forgery of documents.
Zimbabwe was once known as a "paradise" for the African continent, having benefited from many cotton and wheat fields that earned good profits. But since then the state has managed to deteriorate to an economic low, with the concerns and complaints of its citizens directed mainly at the rampant inflation, one of the most difficult in the world. In order to understand the magnitude of the crisis, you should know that in 2009, when the local currency was discontinued, the central bank offered to whoever had 175 quadrillion (15 zeros) Zimbabwean dollars 5 dollars in exchange.
This East Asian city is considered to be very economically, technologically and commercially advanced, and if you visit there you’ll be surprised by the level of cleanliness and organization that prevails in it. However, there are a number of problems that are hidden beneath the surface and are felt mainly by its citizens, but to their dismay, no one reports these issues, because freedom of press in the country is very limited. Singapore is ranked only 151 out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.
If you’ve ever visited the United Kingdom, you’ve probably noticed that one of the most volatile things on the British island is the weather. Storms and rains in the middle of the summer are not uncommon in Britain at all, and the extreme climate that changes too often and characterizes the area makes it very difficult for forecasters to recommend what to wear the next day, so don’t be surprised to hear that the weather is the biggest complaint here.
The beautiful beaches and booming tourism in the Caribbean coast of the country can’t cover up the plague that has ravaged Mexico for decades - the drug cartels that have conquered and destroyed almost every good part of the Central American country and have ravaged many regions for bloody crime wars. The cartel epidemic is everywhere, from the media and the schools to the army and the government - and the average Mexican citizen can only grumble about it quietly so as not to be taken out.
Sweden is considered one of the most successful countries in the world in terms of civil rights and economic equality. So what's bothering the Swedish citizens who enjoy such a well-developed welfare state? It turns out that the social codes used in the country - especially the so-called “Law of Jante" – which negatively portrays personal success, considering it indecent for reasons of politeness- are arousing resentment among young Swedes who are interested in demonstrating greater personal pride and breaking old social myths.
This Muslim East Asian country generally enjoys economic prosperity and is considered the world's largest tea exporter as well as the owner of an extensive textile industry. However, what disturbs its citizens is the severe demographic polarization among the various populations living in it - frequent manifestations of racism coming from the Malaysian majority (about 53 percent of the country's population) to minorities of Chinese origin (about a quarter of the population) and Indian origin residents (about 7%) is a significant hurdle threatening to break the silence and delicate social fabric of the country.
The inhabitants of the cold maple country on the northern part of the North. American continent enjoy a fairly stable economy and a broader welfare policy than their Yankee neighbors, but what disturbs Canada's residents is the over-reliance of the country on its southern neighbor. The average Canadians find that the government and media preoccupation in the country with regard to what is happening in the United States comes at the expense of promoting domestic affairs in Canada, and this is often the case.
Sun, sea and amazing surfing beaches - these are the images that pop up in many of our heads when thinking of the smallest continent in the world, thousands of miles away. Australians also love it very much, it seems, but of course, they also have things that bother them - one of the main issues is the high shipping costs charged by the postal service in exchange for sending and receiving packages, which results in the continent being distanced from the rest of the world.
Ireland is known for its wonderful beer and amazing views from its towering coastlines - but beneath the surface, an old enmity still prevails among its inhabitants and spreads like wildfire over the country. Although the bloody conflict between supporters of the independence of the island and those seeking to unite it with Britain under the crown of Queen Elizabeth ended in a peace agreement signed by both parties in 1998. However, within the local political swamp the old rivalry and hatred still exist and cause division and polarization among its citizens.
In the Philippines adoption of high-speed Internet is progressing at a very slow pace. The country is ranked in the lowest places in the world in terms of surfing speed and connection to the largest data network in the world - which of course causes considerable frustration among its residents.
Crime, violence, kidnappings and government corruption - these are the fate of too many innocent South Africans, who have unfortunately become accustomed to this situation. Although South Africa is considered to be one of the richest and most advanced countries on the African continent, the daily violence that is most present in many parts of the country is one of the worst afflictions of local society. In particular, the rate of sexual violence is among the highest in the world here, and the authorities have not yet found any solution to it.
It turns out that one of the most common complaints in one of the largest and most influential countries in the European Union is about television. It's not that the Germans don’t like the television content being broadcasted, however, public broadcasting channels have been reduced and public TV taxes have been risen. A large demonstration against the tax was organized in the streets of Berlin in 2016, but the protest was unsuccessful, and the outrageous fee still exists.
Even in the Scandinavian country rich in oil and natural minerals, where citizens enjoy economic prosperity and relative abundance, there is something to complain about. What the Norwegians lack more than anything else is sunlight - in a country with large areas within the Arctic Circle, there are almost 60 days a year when the sun doesn’t shine at all, in a phenomenon called "polar night." Although in the summer there are also days in which the sun doesn’t set, this doesn’t sufficiently make up for it.
