The top issues on people’s minds in the UK and worldwide

Discover the most pressing issues by country

War, inflation, climate change: there's plenty to stress about in 2024. But what's topping the list in your home country?

The October edition of the What Worries the World survey, conducted monthly by market research firm Ipsos, reveals the top concerns of nations around the globe. The study quizzes members of the public on 18 specific topics – such as crime and violence, climate change, health care, and unemployment – and asks them whether they think their country is going in the right direction. 

From unemployment to climate change, click or scroll on to discover the hot topics that are currently proving most troubling to 26 countries around the world today.

Peru: Crime and violence

A staggering 85% of Peruvians think their country is currently on the wrong track, making Peru the most pessimistic nation covered by the survey.

The South American nation is in the midst of a protracted political crisis, with financial/political corruption the second most pressing concern for Peruvians. Only two other countries worry about this more.

Topping the list of concerns for people in Peru, however, is crime and violence. Amid the political instability, crime rates have spiked – taking public anxiety levels with them. A significant 66% of responders said crime and violence is their top concern, more than in any other country.

South Africa: Unemployment

South Africans are also despondent about the direction their country is going in, with 60% saying it's the wrong one, although this score has improved since the beginning of the year. A similar proportion of people describe the economic situation in the nation as poor.

Unemployment is hovering around the 33% mark in the country and it's the biggest worry for the South Africans surveyed, with 67% citing it as a problem; no other country frets more about joblessness.

Crime and violence is the next biggest concern. According to World Population Review, South Africa has the world's fifth highest crime rate.

France: Crime and violence

Similarly, the vast majority (83%) of the French public are unhappy about the country's current course.

France's most preoccupying issue currently is crime and violence. At 38%, it's the country's highest recorded score for this issue since December 2023.

The French are the most pessimistic people when it comes to the state of their economy, with just 16% believing it to be in good shape.

Sweden: Crime and violence

Swedes are also downbeat about their nation's current prospects, with 70% saying their country is going in the wrong direction.

A recent wave of gang violence is one of the biggest issues in the Scandinavian nation; with 63% of Swedes concerned about crime and violence, it constitutes the country's biggest bugbear (only the people of Peru worry about this more). 

Netherlands: Health care and immigration

In the Netherlands, 74% of people believe the country is heading the wrong way.

Tied on 34%, the two top concerns for people in the country are health care and immigration. The Netherlands is taking an increasingly tough stance against migration, with the hard-right government recently unveiling a package of measures, including re-introducing border checks.

Türkiye: Inflation

The Turkish people are just as gloomy about the path their nation is taking, with 78% saying the country is heading in the wrong direction.

Inflation in Türkiye is jaw-droppingly high, hovering around the 50% mark, making it one of the highest rates in the world. Unsurprisingly, it's the country's biggest concern by far, with 55% of Turks citing inflation as a worry in the Ipsos study.

Crime and violence is also a growing worry for people in the country, with concern about the issue the highest it's been since August 2020.

Hungary: Health care

Over three-quarters (80%) of Hungarians are unhappy with the direction their country is taking. 

The most significant concern today is health care, with a whopping 65% of the vote. This is followed by financial/political corruption, which 50% of Hungarians have highlighted as a key problem.

Climate change, on the other hand, troubles a mere 7% of Hungarians, while terrorism received just 1% of the vote.

Japan: Climate change

The Japanese are firmly in the pessimist camp, with just 28% of those surveyed by Ipsos believing their country is on the right path. Only one other country, France, is more negative about its economy.

Climate change is currently the issue causing most concern to those surveyed, a possible response to a deadly heatwave that claimed several hundred lives in the country earlier this year.

Chile: Crime and violence

Similarly pessimistic, 71% of Chileans believe their country is on the wrong track.

Crime and violence top the concerns of the people, almost eclipsing the other key worries. Chile recorded its highest-ever murder rate in 2022 and there's a strong perception the country is battling a security crisis, with support growing for the authorities to take a more draconian mano dura ('iron fist') approach.

With 63% of Chileans highlighting crime and violence as their main concern, only Peru worries about the issue more.

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Germany: Crime and violence

With the German economy in poor shape, it's little wonder only 24% of citizens believe the country is on the right track.

Despite inflation being the main concern in the country for some time, crime and violence has emerged as the key issue in the latest Ipsos report. Inflation comes next, followed by poverty and social inequality and climate change.

South Korea: Unemployment

South Korea is split along the same lines, since 76% think the country is moving in the wrong direction.

With negativity about the economy rife, unemployment is the country's biggest worry (35%), tied with corruption. Inflation is now the third most pressing concern.

UK: Health care

According to the report, 64% of Brits believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. An even larger proportion (72%) describe the economy as "bad".

In terms of anxieties, health care is now the country's leading concern, with 41% of respondents citing it as a problem. This is perhaps no surprise; Great Britain's national health service (NHS) is under increasing strain and waiting lists are still suffering from pandemic-era backlogs and insufficient funding. 

Meanwhile, the UK's ongoing cost of living crisis means inflation comes a close second, with 33% of the vote.

Colombia: Unemployment and corruption

Just 35% of Colombians say their country is on the right path. Pessimism about the economy is even stronger; 73% of respondents would describe the economic situation as "bad".

While crime and violence has previously been the most pressing concern, unemployment is tied with financial/political corruption (39%) as the biggest issue in the country.

Canada: Inflation

Canadians are largely unhappy about the direction their country is going in, with a strong majority of 67% believing it's the wrong one. This is reflected in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's low approval ratings.

Inflation fell last year from 5.9% in January to 3.4% in December and has since dropped below the 2% mark. However, it continues to be the country's leading worry, with health care another key concern.

USA: Inflation

According to the latest Ipsos survey, 63% of Americans think the country is currently on the wrong track.

Inflation almost halved in 2023, falling to 3.4% in December compared to 6.5% the year before. It's since dropped to 2.4% but remains the biggest worry for Americans with 51% of the vote.

Crime and violence is next on the list (32%), then climate change (23%). Interestingly, Americans worry less about poverty and social inequality than any other country surveyed.

Spain: Unemployment

Economic woes are at the forefront of Spanish minds. According to the Ipsos survey, 66% think the country is on the wrong track, while 62% believe the economy is in bad shape.

Joblessness is the country's top concern, with 34% of Spanish people highlighting it as a major problem. Health care (31%) and inflation (29%), which has fallen but remains elevated in the country, are the next most pressing issues.

Belgium: Poverty and social inequality

In Belgium, 62% of the population thinks the country is heading in the wrong direction, though people are generally more positive about the nation's economic prospects.

Although poverty and social inequality is the country's biggest concern, only 33% of Belgians questioned by Ipsos cited it as a worry. Crime and violence comes next at 26%, followed by inflation at 25%.

Australia: Inflation

Globally, just 39% of the world's inhabitants believe their country is going in the right direction.

In Australia, the figure is higher than the global average at 47%. This means the nation's citizens are optimistic by international standards, despite the majority believing their country is on the wrong track.

Inflation may have eased this year, but it's still the primary concern for Australians (47%). Crime and violence is next (32%), followed by health care (31%).

Argentina: Inflation

The percentage of Argentinians who believe their country is on the right path surged after the election of populist right-winger Javier Milei as president in November. In the space of a month, the figure rocketed by 30%, standing at 49% in January and a whopping 60% in February. In the latest report, this number has dropped back down to 53%.

Argentina's inflation rate hit an astonishing 276% in February, so it stands to reason that it's still the nation's biggest concern.

Brazil: Crime and violence

In Brazil, 42% think the country is on the right path while 58% believe it's moving in the wrong direction.

As in other Latin American nations, crime and violence are the major concerns in Brazil, with 41% highlighting this key anxiety. Poverty and social inequality (31%) and health care (39%) are the other big concerns.

Poland: Inflation

Poland's recent change of government apparently ushered in a wave of optimism, with 55% of people believing the country was heading in the right direction in February. In the latest report this number sits at 46%, suggesting optimism has waned.

Inflation is the nation's number one concern, with 36% of respondents citing it as their main worry.

Malaysia: Financial/political corruption

In Malaysia, 71% of people believe their nation is heading in the right direction, making it the third most optimistic country in the survey

Financial/political corruption is the primary concern in the country, with Malaysia scoring only just above the global average in Transparency International's most recent Corruption Perception Index. Only three other countries, Peru, Hungary, and Indonesia worry more about corruption according to the Ipsos research.

Mexico: Crime and violence

The Mexican people are wavering about the country's prospects, with 48% saying the nation is on the right path, down from 55% earlier this year. Optimism surrounding the country's economic performance has also fallen.

The country is infamous for its elevated levels of mainly cartel-led crime, with rates of murder, kidnapping, and other serious offences sky-high. Consequently, crime and violence represent the primary concern for 56% of Mexicans.

India: Inflation

Ipsos's report suggests that 72% of the Indian population believes the country is on the right path, and an even larger proportion (83%) thinks the country's economy is doing well.

Although inflation is the leading concern for 47% of the survey's respondents, the percentage of people worried about poverty and social inequality is comparatively low at 20%, reflecting a ballooning sense of opportunity and the country's robust economic progress.

Indonesia: Financial/political corruption

Indonesians are generally positive, with 65% taking the view their country is on the right path. That said, a lesser percentage (57%) thinks the economy is performing well.

Despite these high approval rates, Indonesia out-worries the rest of the world when it comes to financial/political corruption – which is the nation's chief concern, with 53% of respondents highlighting it – and unemployment, which received 51% of the vote.

Singapore: Inflation

A stellar endorsement of the country's government, 81% of Singaporeans say the nation is heading in the right direction, the most optimistic of all the countries surveyed.

But it's not all smooth sailing in Singapore. Inflation (56%) is the biggest worry for the people of the city-state, despite the fact rates are much lower in Singapore than elsewhere in the world, while unemployment (364%) comes in second place.

Comparatively few residents are worried about financial/political corruption and crime and violence, which are relatively uncommon in Singapore.

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