What Worries the World – August 2025

Key findings:

• Crime and violence is seen as the biggest issue on average across 30 countries, with 32% choosing it as an issue.
• Inflation (30%), poverty and social inequality (29%), unemployment (28%) and corruption (26%) make up the rest of the five biggest issues.
• 50% in Thailand are worried about military conflict between nations following tensions along its border with Cambodia.
• Only 9% in France think the country’s economy is good. The lowest figure out of the 30 countries surveyed and the lowest score France has recorded since January 2015.

World Worries: Long-Term Trends

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

Crime & violence the number one issue

The proportion mentioning crime & violence across 30 countries this August remains at a third (32%). Meanwhile, concern about inflation has fallen slightly to three in ten (30%).

Five out of the six LATAM countries in our study have crime as their number one worry, as well as Sweden (64%) and France (38%).

The proportion of Australians mentioning crime has risen this month. Thirty-six per cent express concern, which is the highest level for Australians since February 2018.

Concern for military conflict between nations across 30 countries has fallen three points to 12%. However, in Thailand worry is up 13 points to 50%.

On the 24th of July, tensions along the border with Thailand and Cambodia escalated into military action. This brief outburst of violence has seen a record proportion expressing worry about military conflict.

Right direction vs wrong track

Across 30 countries, 37% say their country is headed in the right direction. 

Indonesia has seen the largest decrease in optimism after the proportion saying the nation is on the right track fell 19 points to 53% compared to last month. Since January this year Indonesia’s right direction score is down 25 points. This month’s figure is the lowest it has been for Indonesia since the country was added to the survey in August 2022.

On the 24th July, tensions at the Thai and Cambodian border erupted into violent clashes. Since then, peace talks in Malaysia led to a ceasefire and an easing of pressure. 

Thailand’s right direction score has increased four points from last month to 45%. 

Likewise, the proportion of Malaysians expressing optimism is up ten points to 72%, which is the highest it has been since January 2023, when it was 74%.

Current economic situation - G7 Countries

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

Current economic situation

Of the 30 countries in our survey, Malaysia has seen the largest 12-month increase to its good economy score, up 13 points to 71%. 

Also doing well, against the context of recent years, Argentina’s good economy score has now been at or above 20% for 12 of the past 14 months.

This follows a continuous period of five years and 11 months below 20%.

Germany also shows positive signs, with its good economy score having risen every month since the federal election in February (25%).

Meanwhile, France’s good economy score has seen the largest 12-month decrease of any country in our survey, down 18 points. This month’s score of 9% is France’s lowest in over ten years (7% in January 2015).