Global Affairs: Key insights, data and solutions

Here’s Ipsos' best and freshest data and actionable intelligence on global issues for business leaders, policymakers and insights professionals

From climate change to economic and geopolitical instability, the 21st century has been defined by complex, interlocking trends at a planetary scale. Here's Ipsos' latest data on these global issues. 

Key takeaways:

  • Concern about military conflicts is on the rise globally
    • Concern about military conflict between nations is on the rise in 2026, according to the What Worries the World report.  The proportion mentioning military conflict between nations across 30 countries is up to 13%, which is 4pp higher than this time last year. North America has also seen increase levels of concern, albeit, not to the same degree: The U.S. (14%) is up 3pp and Canada (12%) has increased 5pp.
  • Around the world, optimism towards big issues is on the decline...
    • Global optimism has taken a hit in 2025 with a 7-point drop in citizens around the world feeling optimistic about themselves and about their community, according to the 9th edition of Ipsos Global Trends. Now just 59% say they are optimistic about themselves and their family and 45% are optimistic about the city or town where they live. This drop in optimism is striking and has broad implications for corporate and policy leaders alike.
  • ...But we think 2026 will be better than 2025
    • Two in three (66% on average globally) say 2025 was a bad year for their country. And after a year filled with political turmoil, 90% in France say it was a bad year for their country, the highest across 30 countries. 49% predict the global economy will be better in 2026 than it was in 2025.
  • People around the world name climate change, geopolitical instability as top emerging risks
    • The perception of living in a world facing multiple crises became more pronounced in 2025. Nearly all citizens surveyed believe that the number of crises has increased (93%, up 3% from 2024), according to the AXA Future Risks Report 2025. Among risk experts, this sentiment is even stronger, with 95% acknowledging it, including 60% who strongly agree, an increase of 10 ppts from 2024.

 

Violence, inflation, and poverty top list of global worries

On the global stage, concern about inflation has gradually trended downward, according to Ipsos' What Worries the World report. On average across 30 countries, four in ten say their country’s current economic situation is good, rising to more than three in four in Singapore (78%), India (76%), and Malaysia (78%, which marks an all-time high good economy score). However, concern about crime & violence has steadily trended upwards. (Read more.) 

Americans have deep concerns over challenges facing future generations

Childhood tomorrow could look very different from growing up today. The nature and extent of that concern varies, however: 88% of Democrats worry that kids born today will have to deal with the effects of climate change, far more than Republicans (47%) and the general population (68%). (Read more.) 

Most Americans expect extreme weather events to become more frequent in the near future

According to the latest USA Today/Ipsos poll, a majority of Americans (58%) agree that extreme weather events will become more frequent in the near future. But while  84% of Democrats agree that extreme weather events will increase in the near future, only 38% of Republicans feel the same. Democrats are also much more likely than Republicans to say that weather events like extreme heat, wildfires, and hurricanes have gotten more intense in the past decade. (Read more.)

Europeans more likely than Americans to say companies should help solve societal problems

The new Ipsos Transatlantic Pulse finds there are divides between how Europeans across seven countries (Croatia, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden) and Americans feel about the role of businesses. Just over two in three (76% on average across Europe) think a company should also solve societal problems, versus 54% of Americans who agree. (Read more.)

Consumers doubt brands' environmental claims

According to Ipsos' 2025 People and Climate Change report, only one in five (22%) across 32 countries trusts environmental claims made by companies about their products and services. (Read more.)

America's reputation drops around the world

The proportion saying America will have an overall positive influence on world affairs has fallen in 26 out of 29 countries over the last six months. Today, almost two in three (46% on average across the 29 countries) say the US will have a positive influence, down from 59% who said the same in Sept/Oct 2024, prior to the presidential election. (Read more.)

Consumers around the world say prices are the largest barrier to making more sustainable choices

Around the world, the perception of high prices continue to deter consumers from sustainable spending. (Read more.)

Very few Americans name the climate as the most important problem facing the U.S. today

In a recent Ipsos survey, just 3% of Americans (and 0% of Republicans) named the environment and climate change as the #1 issue the U.S. is facing. (Read more.)

The greatest shifts in consumer confidence around the world

Compared to 12 months ago, twelve countries (out of 29 economies surveyed) show a significant drop in consumer sentiment. In contrast, just six countries show a significant increase from January 2024, most of all in Argentina (+8.8 points). (Read more.)

The real generational gap on climate change

In the public imagination, Gen Z is often seen as a uniquely eco-conscious cohort — yet younger Americans’ attitudes on the causes of climate change generally fall in line with those of the general population, according to the Ipsos Consumer Tracker.  The real generational gap? Younger Americans are much more pessimistic on the prospects of reducing the effects of climate change, particularly as individuals. (Read more.)

Inflation remains a top global concern

Inflation remains the leading concern arcross 29 global countries, with 32% of respondents expressing worry—a figure unchanged since December but four percentage points lower than the same point last year. Notably, inflation is now only one point ahead of crime and violence as a primary concern. (Read more.)

Global attitudes on the climate are converging

Made with Flourish

 

The macro environment for climate is changing rapidly as worldwide investment in renewables continues to rise and the impacts of global warming become more evident. Our data reflects this: globally, views on the importance of climate action are converging, and have increased in intensity over the past ten years. The key question now is how far — and how fast — people are willing to change their daily lives to reach shared goals. (Read more.)

Trust in professions


 

 Only 15% of people say they trust social media influencers, the same proportion who trust politicians. Although influencers have a better net trustworthy score to politicians (-41% to -43%). Trust in influencers differs across generations with younger people more likely to trust social media personalities. Twenty per cent of Gen Z trust influencers compared to only 9% of baby boomers. (Read more.)

Americans' attitudes on EVs going into 2025

Only 39% of Americans think electric vehicles are better for the environment than their gas-powered counterparts (D +29). This is likely due to a series of mostly debunked stories, likely aimed at dissuading liberals from buying EVs. This will be a super interesting one to watch, especially as a deeply political majority (58% D +37) thinks the government should continue setting policy that reduces carbon emissions from fuel. (Read more.)

How attitudes on climate change are shifting 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The data reflects a growing feeling of powerlessness in the fight to tackle the climate crisis, especially among younger people. The number who think their government has a clear plan to tackle climate change has declined since 2022. Those who think their government would be failing its citizens if it didn’t act against climate change is down across most countries in the last two years. (Read more.)

Perspectives around the world on plastic pollution 

Strong majorities across 32 countries agree with a range of bans on plastics and byproducts, while there’s slightly lower support for putting more onus on governments and manufacturers. (Read more.)

Though we see a shared responsibility for climate action, concern about future generations is slipping

A new global Ipsos survey of 21,231 adults reveals that, on average across 29 countries, just under a third (31%) of people agree that their government has a clear plan in place for how government, businesses and people are going to work together to tackle climate change. (Read more.)

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