What Worries the World - April 2024

Conducted monthly in 29 countries among a panel of over 20,000 adults for more than a decade, What Worries the World survey offers an exceptional snapshot of world opinion on pressing global issues.

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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.

Inflation remains the number one concern for the 25th consecutive month, but worry is at its lowest level since April 2022.

Key findings

  • Inflation has been the number one global concern overall in our What Worries the World survey for over two years.

  • However, worry over rising prices is at its lowest level since April 2022.

  • Poland is now the most worried country about military conflict, with two-fifths (40%) concerned.

  • A third (33%) of Singaporeans are worried about climate change after a significant increase from last month.

Inflation

Thirty-four per cent say inflation is one of the three biggest issues affecting their country. While the cost-of-living has been the number one concern in our survey since April 2022, worry is falling. The last time concern for inflation was this low was April 2022 (33%).

Argentina remains the most concerned country, where it has been since November 2022. However, the gap between Argentina and other countries is narrowing. In April 2024, Singapore is the second most worried country about rising prices with 61% choosing it as an issue, up ten percentage points compared to last month.

The US is now the fifth most concerned country with 45% choosing it as worry. In February, concern about inflation had fallen to 39%, the US’s lowest figure since spring 2022, but worry has now risen for the last two months.

Percentage difference in concern about inflation between January and April 2024

 

 

 
-5%-5%2%2%0%0%-4%-4%-11%-11%4%4%-2%-2%3%3%-7%-7%1%1%-10%-10%-7%-7%-7%-7%3%3%-6%-6%0%0%-4%-4%-3%-3%2%2%0%0%-3%-3%3%3%-5%-5%0%0%-3%-3%4%4%-6%-6%
 
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Society