Apocalypse 2012: Mayan Calendar End of the World Prediction Believed by 10% of World Population

Fifteen percent of the world's population believe the world will end in their lifetime, according to a recent Reuters poll. And 10 percent say it will happen this year - in line with Mayan calendar predictions.

The calendar stops at the end of 2012, and believers have taken that as a signal for Armageddon.

Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs which conducted the poll for Reuters, said: "Whether they think it will come to an end through the hand of God or a natural disaster or a political event, whatever the reason, one in seven thinks the end of the world is coming.

"Perhaps it is because of the media attention coming from one interpretation of the Mayan prophecy that states the world ends in our calendar year 2012."

The poll garnered responses from 16,262 people in more than 20 countries and has been extrapolated into the global population. The largest proportion who think the end of the world is coming are in the US and Turkey where 22 percent think we're all doomed in our lifetimes.

In contrast, just six percent of the French think it is likely.

Gottfried added that those under 35 with a lower education or household incomes were more likely to believe in an Apocalypse at any time.

"Perhaps those who are older have lived long enough to not be as concerned with what happens to their future," she explained.

Ipsos questioned people in China, Turkey, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Argentina, Hungary, Poland, Sweden, France, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Italy, South Africa, Great Britain, Indonesia, Germany.