Earlier this spring, polling giant Ipsos ran a poll across 28 different countries around the globe to find out what the average person knows and thinks of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Over 20,000 people participated in the Ipsos Eurovision poll. The pollers didn’t only ask for people’s favourite Eurovision songs, but also surveyed their awareness and interest in the contest.

Ipsos surveyed 11 countries that participate in Eurovision — Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain and Sweden — and Hungary, which previously participated in the contest. They also polled the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Malaysia, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina and Japan.

Eurovision Song Contest awareness

Ipsos started their survey by asking respondents the extent to which they were aware that the Eurovision Song Contest existed. Unsurprisingly, European respondents were more aware than the rest of the world.

Ipsos found that Russians and Poles are most aware of the contest, with 99% of the respondents of those countries being aware of Eurovision’s existence. From the surveyed countries, Sweden showed the most interest in watching the contest, with 86% of Swedes having watched the show at least once. Shockingly, 26% of Italy‘s respondents claimed to have never heard of Eurovision — even though the country started participating in the contest at its inception in 1956.

Outside of Europe, the Chinese and Saudi respondents claimed to have watched or heard of Eurovision the most. Surprisingly, although the contest has been promoted in the United States in recent years, with Netflix acquiring the rights to the contest, only 20% of Americans know of the show’s existence, with only 6% claiming to have ever watched it. Only Japan shows a lower number, as only 4% said they’d watched it.

Excitement for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020: The Netherlands was ready

The Ipsos pollers also asked for the respondents to assess their enthusiasm to watch Eurovision 2020 on May 16. (Note that this survey was run before the cancellation of the contest in March). Respondents from host country the Netherlands clearly showed the most enthusiasm to watch it, as 24% of their respondents answered that they will very likely watch the contest.

France and Great Britain, on the other hand, showed less excitement for the annual television programme. Almost half of each of their set of respondents answered that it was extremely unlikely they were going to watch Eurovision 2020. Only 6% of French respondents said that they were “very likely” to watch it.

Emotions about your country’s entry winning Eurovision 2020

The respondents were asked how they would feel if their country were to win Eurovision 2020. The Italians were the most supportive about their entry, with 31% answering they would feel delighted. As the survey was taken between 20 February and 3 March, a few weeks after Diodato won Sanremo 2020 with “Fai rumore”, it seems that the Italian respondents would have felt delighted if he had been able to take the crystal microphone back home.

Next to Italy, Poles and the Russians seemed to be most enthusiastic about their own entries. 71% of the Polish respondents said they would feel positive, while 62% of Russians would feel positive.

Germany, Great Britain, France and Sweden would feel the most indifferent of the Eurovision participating countries.

Most popular Eurovision winning songs

Ipsos did not only ask respondents about their awareness and engagement with the contest, but also about which songs they prefer. The polling giant set up a basic list of popular Eurovision winning songs and songs that have done well in the contest recently.

From their list, ABBA‘s 1974 winning song “Waterloo” topped the poll in ten out of eleven countries as the most popular winning song. The exception was Russia, where Alexander Rybak‘s “Fairytale” was considered the best winner. Loreen‘s 2012 smash hit “Euphoria” was among the top 3 in nearly every single country, finishing second overall.

A Eurovision winner did not come out on top in every single country. In Russia, Sergey Lazarev‘s Eurovision 2019 entry “Scream” received more votes than Rybak. In Italy, Dominico Modugno‘s “Nel blu dipinto di blu” came out on top with 43% of the respondents putting it in their top 3.

Mahmood‘s “Soldi” was the second most-loved Eurovision song in Italy. Among six out of eleven countries, the Eurovision 2019 runner-up was more popular than that contest’s winner, Duncan Laurence‘s “Arcade”.

Are you surprised by the results of Ipsos’ Eurovision poll? If your country was not surveyed, how do you think the results would have looked? Let us know in the comments down below!

42 Comments
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Alexander
Alexander
4 years ago

Seeing Turkey having an over 50% likely watchrate for the shows in the polls makes me so sad… I miss their entries.

Amh
Amh
4 years ago

I’ve watched ESC ‘since many years’ and love
many entries. New Seekers came 2nd in 1972
we haven’t sent a better entry since.
Dulce Pontes, Evridiki , Mia Martini & Mocedades a few artists I’ve bought music of since their entries, Open your mind to listen and you’ll find some Great music ??
??????????????

Stisse
Stisse
4 years ago

I am not surprised that ABBA won. It was something new at that time. Many of the songs in the 70′ S became really big hits. With world famous artists , Not like today, where almost none become hits. Songs that are really underrated in My opinion is Severine 1971, Un banc, Un arbre, Une rue, What a voice she has., and 1972 , Vicky Leandros, Apres Toi. Songs that still has quality

Ermin
Ermin
4 years ago

I’m tired of ÀBBA and Waterloo. Enough is enough. Better songs didn’t even won like Volare.

ESCFanGA
ESCFanGA
4 years ago

Given that we’re living in an age of globalization and social media, I’m a bit surprised very few people outside Europe and Australia have heard of Eurovision. In contrast, only European clubs can play in the Champions League and yet the Champions League is popular all over the world.

Elise
Elise
4 years ago

Am I the only one that can’t stand Waterloo?

stommie
stommie
4 years ago
Reply to  Elise

Waterloo is dansband pretending to be pop. It is one of my least favourite Abba songs. It got the status it has because of Abba’s later successes.

Jofty
Jofty
4 years ago
Reply to  Elise

No, you’re not! And they admit is was “influenced” by See My Baby Jive

Jofty
Jofty
4 years ago
Reply to  Elise

And “clever people” e.g. BBC commentator, accused Cascada of ripping off Euphoria the following year! How insulting!

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago
Reply to  Elise

I can stand it but its not even in my top5 ABBA songs, let Alone ESC

Stisse
Stisse
4 years ago
Reply to  Dawid

Dont understand. Not one of your 5 top ABBA songs? At that time, 1974 they didnt have any top songs internationally,

Yannis
Yannis
4 years ago

I just don’t get we everybody apart from Swedish don’t like Loreen! her popularity is so down compare out of her country! And I would like to believe that doesn’t have to do with her ethnic background

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago

Also REALLY doubt 35% percent of Saudi’s watched ESC at least once, that is BS, they don’t even broadcast it, it would probably even be banned – so nonsense.

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Some people watch it for sure but 35% is way too much

Dawid
Dawid
4 years ago

Poles are always enthusiastic about their representatives BEFORE contest. Then they are throw their hate on them, on ESC itself or both

Katariina
Katariina
4 years ago

“Australia deserves to be in Eurovision because they love it so much!!”

lol, sure

Nectar
Nectar
4 years ago
Reply to  Katariina

lol australia has a population of 25 million as opposed to some European countries at Eurovision with like 500,000

JDS
JDS
4 years ago

Waterloo. Again. Snooze. I don’t why broadcasters and others bother doing these ‘best ever Eurovision song’ polls. The winner is always going to be Waterloo.

Fatima
Fatima
4 years ago
Reply to  JDS

I know, it was only my third favourite that year after Go and I See A Star.

Alex
Alex
4 years ago

IPSOS should have asked countries like Ukraine, Israel, Greece, Malta, Iceland, Norway, Cyprus and Serbia. Don’t get why they asked Hungary/Saudi Arabia and Japan?

Not surprised that French and British do not care about Eurovision. Not surprised either that recent winners have no impact to the general audience since Loreen and maybe Mans.

Africavision
Africavision
4 years ago

I’m surprised at how low the percent of people is, who would be delighted or pleased if their country won the ESC this year. Even if you don’t like or know about Eurovision, I would think you’d be pleased for your country winning any international contest, and being considered the best. I would honestly be thrilled even if my country won in the Miss Fugly World pageant, or gold at the Passing Gas Olympic Games. 😀

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago
Reply to  Africavision

It’s mostly false information, no way 6% of all Americans have heard of ESC, and no way that 26% of Italian people haven’t heard of it. There is no way

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

I know a lot of people in Italy mostly young generations, do not know Eurovision ornhave not watched it. besides, Italy has the lowest ratings for Eurovision

poe-tay-toe-chips
poe-tay-toe-chips
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

Do you think it’s higher or lower than 6%? As an American I think that sounds about right. Also you misread it’s the percentage that’s watched at least some of it.

Erasmus
Erasmus
4 years ago

lower tbh, 6 millions is quite high don’t u think! Considering that most Americans probably even haven’t heard of countries like Slovenia, Lithuania or Moldova…

Katariina
Katariina
4 years ago
Reply to  Erasmus

6% sounds entirely realistic for Americans

Nata
Nata
4 years ago
Reply to  Africavision

I have no interest in being patriotic for the sake of being patriotic.

Bimbamboum
Bimbamboum
4 years ago

Nothing comes a surprise that this year French people aren’t attracted by Eurovision because most of us simply don’t even now WHO is our representative nor his song. The situation in France in 2020 really contrasts with last year when Bilal was in the highlight even before his win in DE2019 and everyone knew at least he was going to be the french hopefull, hearing Roi on various radios (which was not the case for Mon alliée), seeing him live on famous talkshows, interviews… I’m sorry but this HAD to question the french team (Alexandra can you hear me?), because… Read more »

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Bimbamboum

I think in general French people do not care about ESC, a lot of damage has been done during 90s and 00s when ESC had no interest in France. They need to create a hit to increase interest and support like France 2016. Remember that Germany ‘s Satellite was MASSIVE before ESC and they eventually won because people believed in the victory for the first time in ages.

Bimbamboum
Bimbamboum
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

You’re right but indeed, 2016 was a new era for Eurovision in France, not only thanks to Amir’s result, but in the way the contest was presented to viewers : new channel (France 2), new charismatic commenters (Stéphane Bern and Marianne James, so hilarious and kind) and overall the songs began to be promoted on radios, magazines, TVs and touring around the country. An amazing work has been done which reflected on the audiences : around 5.000.000 viewers each year for the grand final, with a new record last year with 30°/. where the young public especially hasn’t been so… Read more »

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Alex

Satellite was massive in Germany. So it was Allez Ola Ole in France tho. It was number 1 for weeks and massive views on youtube as well.
J’ai Cherche indeed very popular as well. Many countries didn’t have any hits or impact like those 2.
The thing in France or Italy is more cultural rather than the songs I think

Mitch
Mitch
4 years ago

Uuum MOLITVA???
Also, while Lena’s “satelite” is cute, it’s just that… Cute.
It didn’t deserve the win but hey, Germany didn’t win for a while so it was quite obvious. Also “Heroes” is so overrated in my opinion, but that’s just me…

Alex
Alex
4 years ago
Reply to  Mitch

Satellite was a hit and catchy modern song. Heroes is also a very good memorable winner.

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
4 years ago
Reply to  Mitch

To be fair, most of the answers given in this poll showed leanings towards the songs of one’s own country. Considering that none of the countries in the geographical area of Serbia were covered in the survey, I’m not surprised that it wasn’t included.

Denis
Denis
4 years ago
Reply to  Mitch

Ehh, Molitva was and is totally surpassed by Verka. Everyone remembers Verka, no one remembers Molitva won that year.

Kredential
Kredential
4 years ago

I don’t think I will ever understand the appeal of Fairytale. I just don’t get it, I don’t find anything special in it and can name ten other songs more deserving of the win that year. I’m clearly in the minority though lol

viridESCent
viridESCent
4 years ago
Reply to  Kredential

I loved and still love Fairytale but Jan Jan and Randajad were robbed that year.

Denis
Denis
4 years ago
Reply to  Kredential

It’s the package. First is the song that works everywhere, sort of schlager folk entry that is universal. People in Russia find it good, so do people in Spain. Then it’s the dancers behind that you can’t ignore. And lastly it is Rybak himself who although not the greatest singer, is a very charming charismatic performer whose cute boy persona went a long way!

Indiana07
Indiana07
4 years ago
Reply to  Kredential

I have the same feeling with “Euphoria”. Simply never got the love for this song but I’m glad that people’s favourite won.

Jofty
Jofty
4 years ago
Reply to  Indiana07

Agree, massively overrated and one of three dubious wins for Sweden after Waterloo and Take Me To Your Heaven – yawn

Denis
Denis
4 years ago
Reply to  Jofty

How are any of these wins dubious? Loreen had no competition and got 12s everywhere. Charlotte Perrelli also was a clear win. And Waterloo is well Waterloo

Jofty
Jofty
4 years ago
Reply to  Denis

That does not mean they were weak songs/winners. Unlike The Herreys, Carola and Mans. Don’t get me started on Ireland, same applies to Rock and Roll Kids and The Voice . Same writer as it happens. I preferred his losing tracks, When by the still wonderful Red Hurley in 76, Wait Until The Weekend comes 85. While I have your attention I have Mamas fatigue – I mean 3 years in a row! Godt kveld!