What Worries the World – April 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.

With the exception of one month, inflation has been the number one concern for 33 months, with a third worried

Key findings:

• Across 29 countries worry about inflation has stayed at a third (33%) across 29 countries.
• There’s still a clear political split in America, with 74% of Republicans saying the country is on the right path vs. 16% of Democrats.
• The proportion of Peruvians saying crime & violence is an issue has risen ten points since last month to three-quarters (75%), which is the highest it has been since October 2016 (also 75%).
• Across Europe, worry about military conflict is rising, particularly in France, which has seen the biggest increase in those saying it’s a concern – up ten points since last month to a quarter (25%).
• Against the backdrop of recent protests, the proportion citing political/financial corruption in Türkiye has risen 11 points to 37% - the highest it has been since July 2015 (when it was 42%).
• Five countries now cite health care as the primary worry for their country: Hungary (59%), Poland (43%), Great Britain (39%), Italy (36%), and Spain (31%).

World Worries: Long-Term Trends

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

Focus on the US

Please note, fieldwork for America was completed on the 26th of March. Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” took place on the 2nd of April, two days before the end of all fieldwork.

Since last month, the positivity gap between Republicans and Democrats remains stark. The proportion of Republicans who say “the country is heading in the right direction” has dropped marginally from 76% to three-quarters (74%). Whereas the proportion of Democrats expressing the same view has fallen four percentage points to 16%, creating a 58-point difference. Last month the gap was 56 points.

Still in the US, we’ve noticed a change in the economic outlook across incomes categories, with those in the low and middle ranges expressing more positivity. The proportion of low income earners thinking the economy is in “good shape” has increased six points over the month to 32% and those in the middle have risen slightly to 38%. Whereas high income earners have dropped four points to 41% saying the economy is “good”.

For further analysis on the current events, visit Know the New America, a new monthly dispatch of Ipsos' best insights on the US tailored for the world.
 

US Right/Wrong Direction by Political Party

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

Inflation

Across 29 countries the proportion expressing concern for inflation remains at a third (33%), keeping it as the most pressing issue to date.

This month, Canada ranks third on our list, following a five-point increase in the number of people who view inflation as one of the country’s most pressing issues. Just over half of Canadians (53%) now identify inflation as a top concern — a level not seen since June 2024, when it peaked at 54%. 

Argentina, which used to experience record high levels of worry, has also risen, by nine points to two-fifths (41%) citing it. However, this is nowhere near its peak of 76% in May 2023.

Crime & violence

Across 29 countries the proportion expressing concern about crime & violence remains at just under a third (32%). This is up slightly from this time last year.

In Peru, there has been a significant 10-point increase since last month, with three-quarters (75%) of respondents expressing concern in April 2025. This is 12 points higher than this time last year and the highest level of concern recorded for Peru since October 2016, when it was also at 75%.

Sweden has also seen a rise in worry after increasing four points since March to 61% mentioning it. 

Financial/political corruption

Across 29 countries, the proportion citing financial or political corruption as a main issue facing their country has remained steady at 27% in April 2025, compared to March 2025.

In Türkiye, the level of worry for financial/political corruption have reached new heights. Against the backdrop of political protests, the proportion expressing concern rose 11 points over the last month to nearly two-fifths (37%). Not only is this 23 points higher than this time last year, it is also the highest it has been for the nation since July 2015, when it was 42%.

Although only being in the survey since August 2022, Indonesia’s score has reached a new high of 70% citing corruption.

Military conflict between nations

Across 29 countries, the proportion citing military conflict as a main issue facing their country has risen slightly to 12% in April 2025.

In France, the concern over military conflict has risen by 10 points in recent weeks, with a quarter (25%) mentioning it this month. This score is nine points higher than this time last year and the highest it has been for the nation since this worry was added in April 2022. 

Likewise, across the rest of Europe, worry is on the rise. Mentions in Poland (39%) are up seven points, up four points in the Netherlands (29%), up five points in Belgium (23%), four points in Italy (18%), while in Spain (16%) it’s increased by seven points.

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?

Current economic situation

On average across 29 countries, just over a third (36%) describe their country’s current economic situation as “good”.

Showing the largest increase over the past 12 months is Malaysia, +25pp to 70%. While Argentina also shows a strong 12-month increase (+18pp), its good economy score has now fallen for three consecutive months.

In contrast, Indonesia’s good economy score is down 14 points from last April. Despite this, it remains the 5th most positive country in our survey, at 51%.

Meanwhile, a three-point decrease from last month in South Korea sees the country record its lowest ever good economy score at just 6%.