What Worries the World – July 2024

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 28th consecutive month, but worry is at its lowest 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, now at a third (33%). 
•  In South Africa, the proportion saying their country is headed in the right direction is at a record high of 36%. This is the highest score since May 2020. 
• Conversely, France’s right direction puts them second from bottom on our list after falling 11pp to 20%. -
• There’s a mixed economic outlook in the US. Worry over inflation is up for Americans this month, recording their second highest score. However, they’ve also experienced the biggest month-on-month increase in the proportion of people saying the economy is in “good” shape.

Inflation 

A third (33%) say inflation is one of the three biggest issues affecting their country, no change from last month. This score is 5pp lower than it was this time last year. 

The proportion of Americans listing rising prices as one of their top concerns has increased 4pp to one in two (50%). This is now their third biggest concern and 5pp higher than a year ago. This is Americans’ second highest level of concern in our records, tied with May 2024.

Seven nations have a double digit decrease in concern from a year ago. Notably, Argentina (48%) and Poland (39%) have both seen falls of 20 points since this time last year. Similarly, concern in Sweden (14%) is down 19pp since last July. 

Several other European nations are less worried about the cost-of-living than last year. These include Germany (-16pp), the Netherlands (-13pp), Spain (-8pp), Hungary (-8pp) and Great Britain (-4pp).

Poverty & social inequality 

Mentions of poverty & social inequality have not changed this month, staying third on our list. 

Much like their worry over crime & violence, the number of Mexicans citing poverty & social inequality as a top issue has significantly increased by 16pp. Now at two-fifths (41%) mentioning it, this is eight points higher than last July, and the highest score recorded since June 2021, when it was 42%. 

Hungary and Thailand are joint first this month, with 43% of both countries worried about inequality. Thailand is up 4pp and their current level of concern is 6pp more than a year ago. Meanwhile, Hungary’s score is up 3pp compared to last month and only marginally higher than last July. 

Peru, however, is experiencing a dip in their concern. They’re down 9pp to a quarter (25%). This is 4pp fewer than this time last year.

Healthcare 

In July 2024 one in four (23%) mention health care as an issue, no change compared to last month. Great Britain has reached a historic level of concern for health care this month. Increasing by 10pp to one in two (50%) Brits expressing worry, this is 11pp higher than last July and is the highest level we have seen in Britain in the last ten years. Please note, fieldwork ended the day before the general election results were announced. 

France has also recorded its joint highest score in ten years, now at 30%. The last time it recorded a figure this high was in June 2022 (also 30%). 

In the same vein, the number of Singaporeans mentioning health care has significantly risen this July. Worry in the country is up 18pp to 44%. This is 19pp higher than 12 months ago. It’s also the highest score we’ve recorded for Singapore, since the country was added to the survey in November 2022.

Current economic situation

 A 29-country average of 37% say the current economic situation in their country is good, down 1pp from last month. 

The US sees the biggest month-on-month increase, up 6pp to 44%. This is the country’s highest good economy score in almost three years (44% in September 2021). 

Argentina’s good economy score continues its recent increase, up a further 5pp this month and now 13pp higher than this time last year. 

Meanwhile, positive economic sentiment is down in Europe, with Great Britain (-9pp), France (-8pp) and Belgium (-6pp) seeing the largest drops since June 2024. 

An exception in Europe is the Netherlands, whose positive economic score is up four points from last month and 24pp higher than a year ago.