What Worries the World – February 2026

World Worries: Long-Term Trends

Q: Which three of the following topics do you find the most worrying in your country?

Focus on Japan

In this month’s edition, we focus on Japan, which recently underwent a snap general election. The nation is grappling with record low birth rates and high inflation, both of which were hot topics in the recent election. We investigate Japan’s data and find that people are primarily worried about inflation, inequality, and taxes. Here’s what Shun-ichi Uchida, CEO, Ipsos in Japan had to say:

Year-on-year change in concern about military conflict between nations

% choosing military conflict between nations as a worry (February 2025 vs February 2026)

Concern about military conflict between nations is on the rise, again. The proportion mentioning military conflict between nations across 30 countries is up to 13%, which is 4pp higher than this time last year. The highest global figure was in July 2025 when the US bombed Iran and concern reached 15%.

The level of worry is up across most of the European countries on our list, but particularly in the Netherlands, where it is up 10pp from last month to 30% citing it.

North America has also seen increase levels of concern, albeit, not to the same degree. The US (14%) is up 3pp and Canada (12%) has increased 5pp.

Economic Situation Change: February 2025 – February 2026

Q: How would you describe the current economic situation in your country? Net "good"

On average across 30 countries, four in ten say their country’s current economic situation is good, rising to more than three in four in Singapore (78%), Malaysia (78%), India (76%). For Malaysia, this marks an all-time high good economy score.

Elsewhere in Asia, Japan and South Korea also show signs of improvement. A 2pp monthly increase puts Japan on 19%: although a low score in relative terms, it represents the country’s highest good economy score in six years. Meanwhile, South Korea’s score has risen 23pp over the past 12 months – the highest year-on-year increase in our survey.

Colombia also shows signs of economic positivity, up 11pp from last month to its all-time highest good economy score (50%).