Public Awareness of Mask Usage in 29 Countries

Abstract

This study analyzed the determinants of people wearing masks in 29 countries in 2020 using over 400,000 survey responses. The results showed that there is considerable variance in the awareness of mask usage across countries. People in Asian countries tend to wear masks whereas citizens in Scandinavian countries are less likely to wear them. This study also found that citizens in more democratic and more prosperous countries are less likely to wear masks. Furthermore, females are more likely to wear them. This paper contributes to the literature as it re-examines anecdotes and previous research by using statistical methods to analyze over 400,000 survey responses.