What Worries the World – March 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.

Inflation is the number one concern, again, after a slight increase across 29 countries

Key findings:

• Across 29 countries worry for inflation rose marginally to a third (33%) across 29 countries.
• The proportion of Americans saying “their country is heading in the right direction” is on the rise, with 43% now taking a positive view. 
• However, there’s a clear political split, with 76% of Republicans saying the country is on the right path vs. 20% of Democrats.
• The percentage of Americans citing corruption as a concern has increased four points to one in three (29%), making it America’s second biggest worry (behind inflation at 43%).
• All nine European countries in our survey have experienced some sort of rise in the proportion expressing worry about military conflict between nations, with Poland (32%) being the most worried.
• Likewise, most of the European countries have seen an increase in concern about immigration control, with Poles' worry level rising seven points over the month to a quarter (24%).
• Health care as an issue in Colombia is up five points to 28%, which is not only 12 points higher than this time last year but also the highest we’ve recorded for the nation since they were added to the survey in March 2021.

Right vs. Wrong Direction Monitor

Q: Would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?

% saying right track

Focus on the US

The United States has undergone major shifts over the last few months. Here we outline key figures to provide context to the current situation.

Since President Trump’s election win in November 2024, the share of Americans saying their “country is heading in the right direction” has increased eight points to 43%. However, we see stark differences along political divides. In the same period, the proportion of Republicans believing that things are on the right track has gone from 10% to 76%; whereas for Democrats it’s dropped from 62% to 20%.

Additionally, the inflationary effects of Covid-19 seem to linger. Since January 2022, cost of living has been the US’s number one worry, with a high of 52% expressing concern in April 2023. In November 2024, the level was at 50% which then fell to 39% in January. However, it has been creeping up again in 2025 and is currently at 43%.

We see a similar story in those saying the economy is ‘good’. In December 2024, 41% gave a positive view of the country’s economic situation. This month we record a score of 36%. Apprehension is particularly felt among those who describe themselves as low income. 31% of low earners said the economy was good in November 2024 – that score is now 26%. For reference, we have yet to see the economic indicator come close to pre-pandemic levels, when (in February 2020) 67% of Americans said the economy was ‘good’.

World Worries: Long-Term Trends

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

Inflation

Across 29 countries the proportion saying inflation is concern is up slightly to its highest level since July 2024, when it was also at a third (33%).
Hungary has experienced a six point rise to half (51%) expressing worry about price levels. This score is 14 percentage points higher than March 2024 and is the highest it has been for the nation since August 2023, when it was also 51%.

Meanwhile, Brazil has reached record levels of concern for cost of living. Up three points to 38%, this is 17 points higher than a year ago and the highest score recorded for 10 years.

Crime & violence

Crime & violence is now second across 29 countries with 32% citing it as one of the main issues facing their country. This is unchanged from last month, when it was joint first with inflation.

In Belgium, the level of worry has hit a new record. The proportion mentioning crime has increased six percentage points to one in three (31%). This is up slightly from a year ago and is the highest level for the country in nearly 11 years, when June 2014 was also at 31%.

In the US, the proportion worried about crime has fallen to a four-year low after dropping six points to 22%. The last time it was this low was March 2021, when it was 19%.

Immigration control

Concern about immigration control across 29 countries remains at 17% this month.

Across Europe, we see worry for immigration control is on the rise. Poland has experienced the biggest month-on-month rise of seven points to a quarter (24%) expressing concern. This is also ten points higher than a year ago. Likewise, in both the Netherlands (27%) and Spain (26%), the proportion mentioning immigration is up five points. However, compared to March 2024, it’s still eight points lower for the Dutch; in Spain worry levels are now seven points.

Additionally, in Belgium and France worry has also increased, albeit only slightly, to 25% and 27%, respectively.

Military conflict between nations

This month military conflict has risen up the ranks from 13th to 11th place on our list after a slight increase in mentions across 29 countries.

The rise in concern is seen across Europe, with all nine European countries on our list experiencing some sort of increment. Germany has increased the most, with the proportion citing it up 11 points from last month to 27%. This is the highest it has been since March 2023, when it was 28%. The incidence of Swedes mentioning it is also at 27% after worry rose ten points. This is 11 points higher than this time last year.

Likewise, the Netherlands (25%) is up eight points, France (15%) is up six, Poland (32%) by five, Belgium (18%) and Italy (14%) are up four, and Great Britain (15%) and Spain (9%) have increased slightly.

Current economic situation

Across 29 countries, just over a third of people (35%) say the economic situation in their country is “good”.

A majority in just four countries hold this view: India (81%), Singapore (79%), Malaysia (67%) and the Netherlands (59%). 

South Korea (9%), Japan (11%) and France (12%) all sit at the bottom of the table, with fewer than one in five describing their country’s current economy as good. 

Malaysia’s good economy score is up most from this time last year, +22pp to 67%. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s has fallen 18 points over the same period and now sits at 42%.

Current Economic Situation - G7 Countries

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

Thailand's Worries

In Thailand, the top five worries identified in the March 2025 "What Worries the World" survey are:

1. Financial/political corruption: 39%, a slight increase of 1 percentage point from the previous month.
2. Poverty & social inequality: 37%, remaining unchanged from last month.
3. Unemployment: 29%, also unchanged from last month.
4. Crime & violence: 28%, showing a 1 percentage point increase.
5. Inflation: 26%, experiencing a decrease of 5 percentage points from the previous month.

The survey also reveals that 56% of Thai respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction, a decrease of 5 percentage points from last month. Additionally, 56% of respondents describe the current economic situation in Thailand as "bad," which is a 3 percentage point increase from the previous month.