Nearly 15 percent of people worldwide believe the world will end during their lifetime and 10 percent think the Mayan calendar could signify it will happen in 2012, according to a new poll.

The end of the Mayan calendar - spanning about 5,125 years - on Dec 21, 2012, has fuelled interpretations and suggestions that it marks the end of the world.

"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," said Keren Gottfried, research manager at Ipsos Global Public Affairs, which conducted the poll for Reuters.