What Worries the World – October 2025

Our monthly What Worries the World survey explores what the public thinks are the most important social and political issues, drawing on more than ten years of data to place the latest scores in context.

Key findings:

• Inflation worries fall while concerns about unemployment rise. An average of 30% across our 30 countries mention cost of living as an issue, down 13 percentage points since its peak in February 2023, while unemployment (highlighted by 28%) has been creeping up in the last 12 months (+2pp over the year).
• Rise of extremism concern increasing. We have seen an uptick in worry about extremism in countries around the world, notably in the US, Europe, and Asia.
• French pessimism continues to rise. The proportion of French people saying the country is “heading in the right direction” has reached a new ten-year low of just 8%.
• Spotlights. As COP30 is about to begin in Brazil, we focus on climate change as an issue and take a look at Latin America’s most populous country, with expert analysis from Priscilla Branco, Director, Ipsos in Brazil.
   

World Worries: Long-Term Trends

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

Right direction vs wrong track

Across 30 countries, the proportion saying their country is “heading in the right direction” remains at 37%.

France has reached a new record low for optimism amid national strikes. Last month the proportion saying the country is on the right track was at 9%, the lowest score for the country in 10 years. This October, France’s level fell further to 8%, hitting a new 10-year milestone. Please note, Prime Minister Lecornu resigned after this month’s fieldwork finished. 

Elsewhere, in Great Britain, the proportion believing the country is heading in the right direction has fallen three points to 27%, which is the lowest it has been since March 2024 (when it was 21%), prior to the general election.

Similarly, Canada’s score is down four points this month to two-fifths (40%) expressing optimism. However, this could be after an initial bump in optimism after Prime Minister Carney was elected in April.

Current economic situation - G7 Countries

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

Current economic situation

In October, a majority in just six countries think the current economic situation in their country is good. The top three most positive countries are all located in Asia (Singapore, 76%; India, 73%; and Malaysia, 69%).

But not all Asian countries are as positive, and this sentiment falls to as low as 11% in Japan. Only France has a lower good economy score of 9%.

Elsewhere, after a strong rise over the course of 2024, it looks as if Argentina’s good economy score may have passed its peak. This month’s score is down 13 points from the high of 37% in January 2025.