Gallup International was founded in May 1947 (Loxwood Hall, Sussex, England) by Dr. George Gallup together with 11 opinion research institutes from all over the world. It is the oldest and most known global polling organization, which fathers and mothers are among the people who established the key professional bodies of the market and opinion research industry: APOR, WAPOR and ESOMAR.

Gallup International Association (GIA) is registered in Zurich, Switzerland and is a nonprofit entity (verein). Currently the Association through its members, associates and partners covers more than 60 countries on all continents and about 80% of the global population. Their members/associates/partners are leading national institutes (only one per country) with profound local knowledge of research methods and techniques, statistical data, custom and culture differences of its their country.