Populism

Is your society broken? Is your country in decline and in need of a strong leader? Ipsos tracks global attitudes to populism.

On average globally, most citizens feel their country is in decline (57%), that the society they live in is broken (56%), and nearly half feel that they need a strong leader willing to break the rules (47%), according to the 2025 Ipsos Populism Index.

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement? To fix [COUNTRY] we need a strong leader willing to break the rules

Key findings

  • Belief that society is broken is more the rule than the exception.
  • Many see their country in decline and in need of a strong leader.
  • Belief that the economy is rigged shows little change in a decade.
  • Support for economic "cakeism” remains high.
  • Nativism is widespread but not universal.

Ipsos Populism Report 2025