What Worries the World – February 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.

Crime & violence is now the joint number one issue with inflation across 29 countries

Key findings:

• Across 29 countries worry for crime & violence rose to 32%, equal to inflation concern. This is due to inflation staying the same and crime rising slightly from last month.
• All LATAM countries on our list put crime as their primary issue. Notably, the proportion of Argentinians expressing worry has risen 10pp to 49%, its highest level since October 2023 (when it was 50%).
• Worry about crime & violence is also on the rise in Europe, with France now putting it as their top issue with 38% concerned
• After President Trump’s inauguration, the proportion of Americans saying their “country is heading in the right direction” is up eight points (41%) to a near four-year high.
• Germany’s right direction score is at a ten-year low of 17%, while those saying the economy is “good” hit its fifth consecutive all-time low (25%). 
• South Korea reached their all-time high for those expressing worry about the rise of extremism, up nine points to a quarter (24%).
• Likewise, some parts of Europe are concerned with extremism, with Germany (23%) & Sweden (17%) up four points and Great Britain (15%) up five points.
   

Crime & violence
Concerns over crime & violence have been steadily rising over the past year and now stand shoulder to shoulder with inflation as the top global worry. In a survey spanning 29 countries, fear of crime has inched upward once again, reaching the same level of concern as inflation. The last time these two issues were equally pressing was in November 2024, when crime also stood at 32%. Notably, 17 nations have reported an increase in anxiety over crime compared to the previous month, underscoring the growing unease across the world.

In February, crime emerged as the dominant concern across all LATAM countries on our list, highlighting a pervasive sense of insecurity throughout the continent. This shared anxiety reflects the region's growing struggles with safety and lawlessness. In particular, Argentina has seen a notable rise in concern, with the proportion of citizens worried about crime jumping by ten percentage points to 49%, the highest level since October 2023, when it stood at 50%. This increase is part of a broader trend across Latin America, where crime has become the central issue for many.

Similarly, Peru’s has reached a five-year high after the share citing it increased 6pp to 66%. March 2020 (71%) was the last time levels were this high.

Likewise, parts of Europe are experiencing heightened worry. It has now become France’s main worry after increasing six points to 38%, while Germany (36%) and Great Britain (29%) are up seven and Italy (31%) by five points.  

Inflation
Inflation as a worry across 29 countries remains at 32% expressing concern. This is the second time since April 2022, it shares the top spot with crime & violence.

Following President Trump’s announcement of tariffs on Canada, concern over rising prices among Canadians has surged, with the proportion expressing worry climbing five percentage points to 49%. However, this uptick is not unprecedented — February 2024 recorded an even higher peak, marking the highest level of concern that year, five points above the current figure.

Great Britain, on the other hand, has seen concern fall by 6pp to 28%. This is the second lowest score in three years, with August 2024 recording 27%.

Unemployment
Across 29 countries the share of people expressing concern over unemployment has fallen slightly to 27%.

Spain’s level of worry this month has dropped to a record low. The proportion of Spaniards specifying jobs fell 10pp to 28%. Not only is this 7pp lower than February 2024, it is the lowest level we have recorded for the country since they were added to the survey back in March 2014.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s score is up 5pp to 40% who are worried about jobs. However, this time last year was only marginally higher.

Health care
Health care as a concern across 29 countries remains at 24% mentioning it.

The proportion of Polish citizens identifying health care as a key national concern has risen by four percentage points to 39%, placing it just behind inflation (40%) as the country’s most pressing issue. This marks a six-point increase compared to February 2024, highlighting growing public anxiety over the state of healthcare.

Likewise, Belgium’s score has risen 4pp to 25% expressing worry. This is 9pp higher than this time last year and is also the highest score for the country since June 2020 (when it was 26%). It is joint third highest along with crime & violence for Belgians.

Immigration control
Immigration control as an issue across 29 countries has risen fractionally this month to 17% mentioning it.

This issue is acutely felt in Germany. The country has experienced the biggest change in concern after climbing 9pp since January to 44% expressing worry. This is also 9pp higher than February 2024’s level. 

This is the joint highest score, with November 2024 and October 2023 recording the same. The next highest was in March 2018, when 49% of Germans said they were worried.

Current economic situation

Across 29 countries, 37% of people describe their country’s current economic situation as “good”.

Asia-pacific countries crowd the top of the rankings, led by Singapore (80% good economy score), followed by India (77%) and Malaysia (69%). The Netherlands (58%) is the only non-Asian country where a majority describe the current economic situation as good. 

Up most from this time last year continues to be Argentina (+28pp to 34%). In contrast, Brazil’s good economy score has fallen 14 points since February 2024.

Germany also sees another bad month, down slightly to record its fifth consecutive all-time low good economy score of 25%.