CAIRO — Increasing numbers of Egyptians think their country is not heading in the right direction as political divisions deepen and the economy falters, according to a new poll released by the Pew Research Center.

The poll released Thursday says only 30 percent see the country on the right track, compared to 53 percent surveyed in 2012.

But despite their gloomy perception, 53 percent of Egyptians view Islamist President Mohammed Morsi favorably.

Morsi took office in June, becoming Egypt's first elected president with 51.7 percent of the vote, following the 2011 uprising against longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. Divisions among Egyptians sharpened after he took office, violent clashes spread, and a cash-strapped economy continued to deteriorate.

The poll was conducted in March, surveying 1,000 Egyptians with a 4.3 percent margin of error.