WHAT WORRIES THE WORLD? NOVEMBER 2021 | Ipsos

November 2021

WHAT WORRIES THE WORLD?

© Ipsos | What Worries the World

WHAT WORRIES THE WORLD?

Ipsos’ What Worries the World survey tracks public opinion on the

most important social and political issues across 28 countries today,

drawing on 10 years of data to place the latest scores in context.

This global summary report presents the top concerns around the

world, alongside whether people think things in their country are

heading in the right or wrong direction.

Full breakdowns of findings for each country and

each issue are also available on www.ipsos.com.

Please contact [email protected]

for more information.

@ Ipsos | What Worries the World

mailto:[email protected]


32%

30%

28%

28%

27%

Poverty & social inequality

Unemployment

Coronavirus

Financial/political corruption

Crime & violence

-1

As concern about Covid-19 begins to decline around the world, the focus is shifting towards issues around money and

employment. Poverty & social inequality is the top global worry for the second month in a row, followed by Unemployment.

Meanwhile, almost two-thirds (65%) say that things in their country are heading in the wrong direction.

WHAT WORRIES THE WORLD? NOVEMBER 2021

Which three of the following topics do you

find the most worrying in your country?

Generally speaking, would you say things in this

country are heading in the right direction, or are

they off on the wrong track?

✓

WRONG TRACK

RIGHT DIRECTION

35%

65%

Source: Ipsos Global Advisor. Global score is a Global Country Average. See methodology for details.

3 ‒

Q Q

-1

-1

+1

% change

vs. last

month

change vs.

last month

=

-1

=

Base: Representative sample of 19,021 adults aged 16-74 in 28 participating countries, October 22nd 2021 - November 5th 2021.


Coronavirus

(COVID-19)

Unemployment Poverty & social

inequality

Financial/political

corruption

Crime & violence

4 ‒

WHAT WORRIES THE WORLD? 12-MONTH TREND

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Nov2020

Jan2021

Mar2021

May2021

Jul2021

Sep2021

Nov2021

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Nov2020

Jan2021

Mar2021

May2021

Jul2021

Sep2021

Nov2021

28%30%32%

28%27%

65%

35%

Which three of the following topics do you find the most

worrying in your country?

Generally speaking, would you say things in this

country are heading in the right direction, or are they

off on the wrong track?

Q Q

Right Direction Wrong Track


Base: Representative sample of c.20,000 adults aged 16-74 in 28 participating countries, November 2020 – November 2021


DIRECTION OF

TRAVELALL

COUNTRIES

5 ‒


13%

16%

17%

21%

21%

22%

23%

26%

29%

30%

31%

33%

33%

34%

34%

34%

34%

35%

37%

38%

40%

45%

46%

47%

48%

56%

63%

86%

35%

87%

84%

83%

79%

79%

78%

77%

74%

71%

70%

69%

67%

67%

66%

66%

66%

66%

65%

63%

62%

60%

55%

54%

53%

52%

44%

37%

14%

65% Wrong track

Rightdirection

Would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track? (November 2021)

6 ‒

RIGHT DIRECTION VS. WRONG TRACK MONITOR

q -1

p +5

p +2

p +2

q -2

q -1

p +1

q -5

p +1

p +11

q -4

p +1

q -3

q -5

q -1

q -8

p +5

q -4

q -5

q -3

q -1

q -6

p +2

q -1

q -5

=

p +4

q -2

Global country average

Saudi Arabia

India

Australia

Malaysia

Canada

Mexico

Germany

Russia

South Korea

Japan

Israel

Great Britain

Italy

Spain

US

Netherlands

Sweden

Belgium

France

Hungary

Turkey

Argentina

Chile

Brazil

Poland

South Africa

Peru

Colombia


Q

Across the 28 nations surveyed,

65% on average say that things

in their country are on the wrong

track while 35% think they are

heading in the right direction.

Colombia has the largest

proportion of respondents saying

that their country is heading in

the wrong direction (87%) and

has been in this position for 7

consecutive months. Completing

the three most pessimistic

countries are Peru (84%) and

South Africa (83%).

Malaysia sees the largest

increase in the proportion of the

public saying the country is on

the wrong track (+10 points), but

it remains the fourth most

optimistic country surveyed.

Elsewhere, there is a 7-point

increase in “wrong track”

sentiment in Italy (66%) and a 5-

point increase in South Africa

(83%).Base: Representative sample of 19,021 adults aged 16-74 in 27 participating countries, October 22nd 2021 - November 5th 2021.


GLOBAL: RIGHT DIRECTION/WRONG TRACK

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Nov2013

Nov2014

Nov2015

Nov2016

Nov2017

Nov2018

Nov2019

Nov2020

Nov2021

Right direction Wrong track

65%

35%

Base: Representative sample c. 20,000 adults aged 16-74 in 28 participating countries, 2013 - 2021.

7 ‒

Would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?

(Global country average score)

Q


© Ipsos | What Worries the World8 ‒

WORRIES THE

WORLD?TOP ISSUES

RANKED


32%

30%

28%

28%

27%

21%

18%

17%

16%

16%

12%

11%

9%

8%

7%

6%

2%

1%

Poverty & social inequality

Unemployment


Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Crime & violence

Healthcare

Inflation

Taxes

Education

Climate change

Immigration control

Moral decline

Threats against the environment

Rise of extremism

Terrorism

Maintaining social programmes

Access to credit

Childhood obesity

9 ‒

WORLD WORRIES: THE FULL LIST

% mentioned in November 2021 (global country average)

q -2

p +2

q -1

q -3

p +5

=

=

q -2

p +1

=

p +1

q -1

q -2

p +1

q -2

p +1

=

q -1

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



Our full ranking of the 18

issues in our survey gives an

overview of what people in 28

countries worry about today.

The top five issues in

November 2021 are Poverty

& social inequality (32%),

Unemployment

(30%),Coronavirus (28%),


(28%) and Crime & violence

(27%).

One in five (21%) also say

that Healthcare is a big issue

facing their country today.

Next in the list are Inflation

(18%), Taxes (17%),

Education and Climate

change (both 16%).


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

nov2013

nov2014

nov2015

nov2016

nov2017

nov2018

nov2019

nov2020

nov2021

Poverty & social inequality Unemployment Coronavirus Financial/Political corruption Crime & violence

28%

WORLD WORRIES: LONG-TERM TREND

27%

28%

30%

32%

Base: Representative sample c. 20,000 adults aged 16-74 in 28 participating countries, 2013 - 2021.

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

Global country average

Q


10 ‒


32%

52%

47%

44%

43%

43%

41%

39%

37%

34%

34%

33%

33%

33%

31%

31%

31%

30%

29%

29%

29%

29%

28%

26%

22%

21%

21%

20%

17%

World

Russia

Colombia

Hungary

Brazil

Turkey

Japan

Germany

Argentina

Chile

South Africa

Belgium

Malaysia

Spain

Israel

Mexico

Netherlands

Peru

France

Great Britain

India

Italy

South Korea

Canada

Sweden

Australia

US

Poland

Saudi Arabia

1 | POVERTY & SOCIAL INEQUALITY

(%) worried in November 2021 in each country

q -1

q -1

=

q -3

p +2

q -6

p +4

p +4

q -1

=

q -2

q -7

q -1

q -7

p +2

p +2

q -7

p +1

=

=

q -3

q -6

q -2

=

p +1

q -4

q -2

=

Country Comparison


Base: Representative sample of 19,021 adults aged 16-74 in 28 participating countries, October 22nd 2021 - November 5th 2021.11 ‒

For the second time after Covid-19

stopped being the top global

concern, Poverty & social

inequality is number one in our

issues ranking, according to our

28-country average. One-third

(32%) say this is one of the top

issues facing their country today.

Russia leads the ranking with 52%

concerned, followed by Colombia

(47%), then Hungary (44%), Brazil

(43%) and Turkey (also 43%).

There have been moderate

increases in levels of concern

since last month in Turkey (+5)

and Japan, Malaysia, Sweden and

Poland (all +4).

This is the #1 concern in 4 of our

28 countries: Russia, Brazil,

Turkey, and Germany.


2 | UNEMPLOYMENT AND JOBS


q -1

q -1

=

q -3

p +2

q -6

p +4

p +4

q -1

=

q -2

q -7

q -1

q -7

p +2

p +2

q -7

p +1

=

=

q -3

q -6

q -2

=

p +1

q -4

q -2

=

Country Comparison

30%

66%

56%

53%

50%

46%

44%

42%

40%

35%

33%

33%

32%

30%

28%

25%

23%

23%

20%

19%

19%

18%

18%

17%

17%

13%

13%

10%

9%

World

South Africa

Spain

Italy

South Korea

Colombia

India

Mexico

Argentina

Peru

Brazil

Malaysia

Saudi Arabia

Turkey

Japan

Russia

Australia

Sweden

US

Chile

Hungary

Belgium

Canada

France

Israel

Great Britain

Poland

Germany

Netherlands



Unemployment is the second

greatest worry worldwide, with

three in 10 (30%) on average

counting it as one of the most

important issues facing their

country today.

South Africa is once again the

country most concerned about

unemployment with two-thirds

(66%) selecting this as a top worry.

Next are Spain (56%), Italy (53%)

and South Korea (50%).

Sweden and Belgium see the

largest increases in concern about

unemployment (+4 in both), while it

falls by 11 points in Turkey and 10

points in Saudi Arabia compared to

October 2021.

Unemployment is the top concern

in 5 countries: South Africa, Spain,

Italy, South Africa and India.


28%

51%

49%

43%

42%

40%

39%

38%

34%

34%

33%

30%

30%

28%

28%

28%

27%

26%

25%

25%

23%

22%

20%

20%

19%

18%

10%

9%

8%

World

Malaysia

South Korea

Japan

Australia

Great Britain

Saudi Arabia

Canada

Mexico

US

Netherlands

Peru

Russia

Belgium

Germany

India

Turkey

Poland

Italy

Spain

Brazil

South Africa

Hungary

Israel

France

Chile

Colombia

Argentina

Sweden

=3 | CORONAVIRUS


q -1

p +28

q -4

q -10

q -3

q -2

q -2

q -1

q -3

p +2

q -1

q -6

q -5

q -5

q -2

p +13

q -3

q -4

q -3

q -4

q -7

p +1

p +2

q -19

p +10

q -6

q -5

p +2

13 ‒

Country Comparison



Covid-19 is in third position in our issues

ranking with a global country average

score of 28% - the lowest recorded since

we began tracking it. This was 8

percentage points higher at 36% just two

months ago. Coronavirus was the

world’s top worry between April 2020 –

September 2021.

The largest month-on-month increases in

concern are seen in the Netherlands and

Belgium (both up 12 points). Meanwhile,

it falls by 14 points in Israel.

Malaysia sees another significant drop in

reported concern about Coronavirus (-13

points, following a -10 decline in the

previous month). This month marks the

lowest scores for Covid concern in

Malaysia and Japan (as well as 6 more

countries) since the issue was

introduced.

Covid-19 is still the top concern in 6

countries: Japan, Australia, Great Britain,

Saudi Arabia, Canada and the US.


=3 | FINANCIAL/POLITICAL CORRUPTION


q -1

q -1

=

q -3

p +2

q -6

p +4

p +4

q -1

=

q -2

q -7

q -1

q -7

p +2

p +2

q -7

p +1

=

=

q -3

q -6

q -2

=

p +1

q -4

q -2

=

Country Comparison

28%

57%

54%

50%

49%

48%

41%

38%

35%

33%

32%

29%

29%

29%

25%

24%

23%

22%

22%

22%

21%

19%

17%

17%

16%

14%

10%

10%

7%

World

South Africa

Malaysia

Colombia

Peru

Hungary

Russia

South Korea

Chile

Brazil

Poland

Argentina

India

Israel

Spain

Mexico

US

Australia

Belgium

Turkey

Japan

Italy

Saudi Arabia

Netherlands

Canada

Great Britain

France

Germany

Sweden



With 28% on average across all

countries saying that Financial/

Political corruption is an important

issue for their country today, this

ranks as the third greatest concern

today – level with Covid-19.

South Africans show the highest

levels of concern (57%), followed

by Malaysia (54%) and Colombia

(50%). Peru and Hungary are just

behind Colombia with 49% and

48% respectively.

The largest month-on-month

increases are seen in Israel (+5),

Australia (+4) and Malaysia (+4)

while the greatest declines are

recorded in Argentina and Turkey (-

7 in both).

Corruption is the number one

concern in Malaysia, Colombia and

Peru today.


27%

65%

57%

51%

47%

46%

41%

41%

37%

31%

26%

26%

25%

23%

22%

22%

22%

21%

18%

17%

17%

16%

16%

13%

12%

11%

11%

8%

5%

World

Sweden

Mexico

South Africa

Argentina

Chile

Colombia

Peru

Israel

France

Brazil

Netherlands

India

US

Australia

Great Britain

Turkey

Germany

Italy

Canada

Malaysia

Belgium

Spain

Saudi Arabia

South Korea

Japan

Russia

Hungary

Poland

5 | CRIME & VIOLENCE

q -1

q -1

=

q -3

p +2

q -6

p +4

p +4

q -1

=

q -2

q -7

q -1

q -7

p +2

p +2

q -7

p +1

=

=

q -3

q -6

q -2

=

p +1

q -4

q -2

=

Country Comparison

Crime & violence is considered one

of the most important issues today

by an average of 27% of people

across 28 countries, making this

our fifth greatest global worry.

The three countries most

concerned about crime and

violence (Sweden, Mexico and

South Africa) remain unchanged.

South Africans are comparatively

more concerned about

unemployment but crime is the

number one issue selected by

those in Chile, France and Israel.

Argentina sees the largest month-

on-month percentage point

increase in this wave (+8 points to

47%). There has also been a 5-

point increase in Chile, putting the

country in 5th place at 46%.





CLIMATE CHANGE


q -1

q -1

=

q -3

p +2

q -6

p +4

p +4

q -1

=

q -2

q -7

q -1

q -7

p +2

p +2

q -7

p +1

=

=

q -3

q -6

q -2

=

p +1

q -4

q -2

=

Country Comparison

16%

32%

31%

30%

30%

28%

25%

25%

25%

23%

23%

22%

16%

15%

15%

13%

13%

10%

10%

9%

9%

8%

8%

5%

5%

4%

4%

3%

3%

World

Germany

Canada

Australia

Great Britain

Belgium

France

Netherlands

US

Japan

Sweden

Italy

South Korea

Poland

Saudi Arabia

India

Spain

Chile

Israel

Hungary

Mexico

South Africa

Turkey

Colombia

Malaysia

Brazil

Peru

Argentina

Russia



At the time of the COP26

conference, we recorded 16%

on average across all countries

saying that climate change is

among the most important

issues facing their country

today. This is ranked 9h in our

list of 18 issues – joint with

education, and just behind taxes

(17%) and inflation (18%).

The 5 countries most worried

about climate change are

Germany (32%), Canada (31%),

Australia (30%), Great Britain

(30%) and Belgium (28%). Also

with 25% selecting this issue are

France, the Netherlands and the

US.

Concern has picked up most in

Belgium and Sweden since last

month (+4 in both).

With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) taking place, we have been looking at environmental concerns.


9%

19%

15%

14%

13%

13%

13%

12%

12%

12%

11%

10%

10%

10%

10%

9%

9%

9%

9%

8%

8%

7%

5%

5%

4%

4%

4%

3%

2%

World

Germany

Sweden

South Korea

Australia

Belgium

France

Canada

Italy

Netherlands

Brazil

India

Japan

Poland

Russia

Chile

Colombia

Great Britain

US

Mexico

Saudi Arabia

Malaysia

Israel

Spain

Argentina

Hungary

Turkey

Peru

South Africa

THREATS AGAINST THE ENVIRONMENT


q -1

q -1

=

q -3

p +2

q -6

p +4

p +4

q -1

=

q -2

q -7

q -1

q -7

p +2

p +2

q -7

p +1

=

=

q -3

q -6

q -2

=

p +1

q -4

q -2

=

Country Comparison



In addition to the 16% who

consider climate change to be a

top issue facing their country

today, 9% select “threats against

the environment”. This issue

ranks 13th in our full list of 18

worries.

Germany leads the rankings for

this issue, with a 3-point increase

to 19%. Last month the top spot

was shared between Germany

and Brazil, but the latter has

dropped 5 points to 10th place

overall.

South Korea, in third place, and

Russia, in a mid-table position,

also see 3-point increases in

concern about threats against the

environment compared to the

previous month.

With the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) taking place this autumn, we take a look at environmental concerns.

© Ipsos | What Worries the World18 ‒

METHODOLOGY

This 28-country Global Advisor survey was conducted between October

22nd 2021 - November 5th 2021 via the Ipsos Online Panel system among

19,021 adults aged 18-74 in Canada, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkey

and the United States, and 16-74 in all 21 other countries.

The “Global Country Average” reflects the average result for all the

countries where the survey was conducted. It has not been adjusted to the

population size of each country and is not intended to suggest a total result.

The samples in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru,

Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey are more urban, more

educated, and/or more affluent than the general population. The

survey results for these markets should be viewed as reflecting the

views of the more “connected” segment of these populations.

Weighting has been employed to balance demographics and ensure

that the sample’s composition reflects that of the adult population

according to the most recent census data.

The sample consists of approximately 1000+ individuals in each of

Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy,

Israel, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and the US, and approximately 500+

individuals in each of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, India, Malaysia,

the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South

Korea, and Turkey.

The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility

interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and

of 500 accurate to +/- 5.0 percentage points. For more information on

the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.

The samples in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany,

Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea,

Spain, Sweden, and the US can be taken as representative of these

countries’ general adult population under the age of 75.

Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1

more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple

responses, or the exclusion of don't knows or not stated responses

The publication of these findings abides by local rules and regulations.

© Ipsos | What Worries the World© Ipsos | Doc Name19 ‒

ABOUT IPSOS

Ipsos is the third largest market research company in the world,

present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people.

Our research professionals, analysts and scientists have built

unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide powerful

insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens,

consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75

business solutions are based on primary data coming from our

surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or

observational techniques.

“Game Changers” – our tagline – summarises our ambition to

help our 5,000 clients to navigate more easily our deeply

changing world.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext

Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120

and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement

Service (SRD).

ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg

IPS:FP

www.ipsos.com

GAME CHANGERS

In our world of rapid change, the need for reliable information

to make confident decisions has never been greater.

At Ipsos we believe our clients need more than a data supplier,

they need a partner who can produce accurate and relevant

information and turn it into actionable truth.

This is why our passionately curious experts not only provide

the most precise measurement, but shape it to provide True

Understanding of Society, Markets and People.

To do this we use the best of science, technology

and know-how and apply the principles of security, simplicity,

speed and substance to everything we do.

So that our clients can act faster, smarter and bolder.

Ultimately, success comes down to a simple truth:

You act better when you are sure.

Documents

WHAT WORRIES THE WORLD? NOVEMBER 2021 | Ipsos