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

The latest edition of the What Worries the World survey, conducted monthly by market research firm Ipsos, reveals the top concerns of 29 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, read on to discover the hot topics that are currently proving most troubling to countries around the world today.

A staggering 86% 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 62% of responders said crime and violence is their top concern, more than in any other country.

South Africans are almost as despondent about the direction their country is going in, with 79% saying it's the wrong one. A similar proportion of people describe the economic situation in the nation as dire.

Unemployment stands at a whopping 32% in the country and it's the biggest worry for the South Africans surveyed, with 65% 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 third-highest crime rate.

Similarly, the vast majority (82%) of the French public are unhappy about the country's current course. With President Macron's approval rating hovering at just 30%, this is probably to be expected.

France's most preoccupying issue is inflation, which also ranks as the world's number one worry, having held the top spot for the last 23 months.

Poverty and social inequality, crime and violence, and health care complete the Gallic nation's top four. In addition, France has endured some horrifying terrorist attacks in recent years, with the report showing that only five other countries worry about terrorism more.

Swedes are also downbeat about their nation's current prospects, with 71% 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 55% of Swedes concerned about crime and violence, it constitutes the country's biggest bugbear (and only South Africa, Chile, and Peru worry about this more). 

Inflation is the second biggest worry, followed by poverty and social inequality. Interestingly, squeaky-clean Sweden worries less about financial/political corruption than any other country besides France and Singapore.

In the Netherlands, 73% of people believe the country is heading the wrong way.

With the number of residents in financial hardship on the rise, poverty and social inequality have emerged as the nation's main concerns. Climate change is next; only Australia and Japan worry about this more.

On the brighter side, inflation has fallen to 2.35% in the Netherlands, so isn't a major concern, while the extremely tight jobs market means the Dutch worry less about unemployment than any other nation.

The Turkish people are just as gloomy about the path their nation is taking, with 74% saying the country is heading in the wrong direction.

Inflation in Türkiye is jaw-droppingly high at around 67%, 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.

Poverty and social inequality, financial/political corruption, and unemployment follow, in order of importance, while only Israel is more concerned about terrorism.

Over three-quarters (79%) of Hungarians are unhappy with the direction their country is taking. 

The most significant concern today is health care, with a whopping 64% of the vote. This is followed by financial/political corruption, which 52% of Hungarians have highlighted as a key problem. This is arguably no huge surprise given Hungary is perceived as the most corrupt nation in the EU.

Poverty and social inequality, inflation, and unemployment are among the other leading concerns. Climate change, on the other hand, troubles a mere 6% of Hungarians, while terrorism received just 1% of the vote.

The Japanese are firmly in the pessimist camp, with just 27% of those surveyed by Ipsos believing their country is on the right path. Only a handful of other countries are more negative about their economies.

People in Japan are most concerned about financial/political corruption and poverty and social inequality, with both categories receiving 32% of the Japanese vote. The country's poverty rate is high by OECD standards, and there are relatively few safety nets when people fall on hard times.

Similarly pessimistic, 70% 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 61% of Chileans highlighting crime and violence as their main concern, only Peru worries about the issue more.

With the German economy in poor shape, it's little wonder only 28% of citizens believe the country is on the right track.

Inflation remains the country's leading concern, with 35% of surveyed German citizens highlighting it as a key issue. Poverty and social inequality are next on the agenda, while climate change and military conflict trouble 27% and 26% of the population respectively.

Coronavirus is lowest on the list of worries, with just 3% of the vote.

South Korea is split along the same lines, since 72% think the country is moving in the wrong direction.

With negativity about the economy rife, unemployment is the country's biggest worry (41%), with inflation close behind (37%). South Korea's other leading concerns are financial/political corruption (31%) and poverty and social inequality (30%).

According to the report, 65% of Brits believe the current Conservative government is veering off course. An even larger proportion describe the economy as "bad".

In terms of anxieties, health care is now the country's leading concern, with 44% 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 COVID-era backlogs and insufficient funding. 

Meanwhile, the UK's ongoing cost of living crisis means inflation comes a close second, with 37% of the vote.

Just 35% of Colombians say their country is on the right path. Pessimism about the economy is even stronger; 75% of respondents would describe the economic situation as "bad".

The security situation in the country has improved over the years – for instance, Medellín, the one-time murder capital of the world, has seen its murder rate plunge and is now a relatively safe tourist hub.

However, crime rates are still high by international standards, with crime and violence representing the chief worry for Colombians. Second on their list of concerns is unemployment, with political and financial corruption coming in third.

Canadians are largely unhappy about the direction their country is going in, with a strong majority of 70% believing it's the wrong one. This is reflected in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's approval rating of just 30%.

Inflation fell last year from 5.9% in January to 3.4% in December and is expected to fall to 3% in the next few months, but remains above the Bank of Canada's target rate of 2%. It continues to be the country's leading worry, with health care another key concern; only Hungary frets more about this topic.

As for Italians, 68% think their country is heading in the wrong direction and a similar amount (71%) believe the nation's economy is in a bad way.

Unemployment has fallen to multiyear lows, though still remains on the high side at more than 7%. As such, it's the European nation's primary concern (37%), followed by health care (31%), then inflation (29%).

President Joe Biden has an approval rating of under 40%, which might explain why 65% of Americans think the country is currently on the wrong track. (Alternatively, the growing popularity of GOP challenger Donald Trump could be to blame for the pessimism).

Inflation almost halved in 2023, falling to 3.4% in December compared to 6.5% the year before. But at more than a percentage point above the Fed's 2% target, it still remains the biggest worry for Americans with 43% of the vote.

Crime and violence is next on the list (33%), then health care (26%).

As the war with Hamas rages on, a 66% majority of the Israeli public believes the country is moving in the wrong direction.

Anxiety over terrorism takes precedence, with 59% of Israelis citing it as a key worry. Understandably, military conflict between nations is the country's next most pressing concern (45%), followed by crime and violence and financial/political corruption, both of which received 27% of the vote.

With the nation at war, other concerns have been knocked down the list; Israelis are less worried about inflation and climate change than anyone else in the world.

Economic woes are at the forefront of Spanish minds. According to the Ipsos survey, 62% think the country is on the wrong track, while 64% believe the economy is in bad shape.

Spain has the EU's highest unemployment rate at almost 12% and joblessness is the country's top concern, with 41% of Spanish people highlighting it as a major problem. Health care and inflation, which has fallen but remains elevated in the country, are the next most pressing issues, both receiving 32% of the vote.

In Belgium, 69% 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 30% of Belgians questioned by Ipsos cited it as a worry. Inflation is a close second at 29%, followed by crime and violence at 28%.

Globally, just 38% 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 49%. 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 with 48% of the vote. Health care is next (31%), followed by crime and violence (29%), and poverty and social inequality (28%). Meanwhile, only Japan is more worried about climate change, with the surge in devastating wildfires perhaps responsible for Australians' anxiety about the planet.

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. With 65% of Argentinians fretting about it, no other country worries so much about rising prices.

In Brazil, 51% think the country is on the right path while 49% believe it's moving in the wrong direction.

As in other Latin American nations, crime and violence are the major concerns in Brazil, with 44% highlighting this key anxiety. Poverty and social inequality (39%) and health care (37%) are the other big concerns.

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 49%, suggesting optimism has waned.

Inflation is the nation's number one concern, with 44% of respondents citing it as their main worry. Considering the Ukraine war is in its backyard, military conflict between nations is understandably a major concern (34%), while health care (31%) rounds out the top three.

In Malaysia, 53% of people believe their nation is heading in the right direction, although 55% would describe the country's economic situation as "bad".

Financial/political corruption is the salient 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.

Inflation is the next biggest worry, with 38% of the Malaysian vote.

The Mexican people are generally upbeat about the country's prospects, with 55% saying the nation is on the right path. The majority also thinks the economy is performing well at present.

But it's not all positive. 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 53% of Mexicans, followed by unemployment (35%).

An even larger proportion of Thais believe their country is heading in the right direction, with 59% taking this view. 

Financial/political corruption is the gravest worry for the Southeast Asian nation, with 43% of respondents citing it as their main worry. Poverty and social inequality comes a very close second (42%). The nation's poverty rate continues to drop but pockets of severe hardship remain.

Ipsos's report suggests that 77% of the Indian population believes the country is on the right path, and an even larger proportion (82%) thinks the country's economy is doing well.

Although unemployment is the leading concern for 38% of the survey's respondents, the percentage of people worried about poverty and social inequality is comparatively low at 19%, reflecting a ballooning sense of opportunity and the country's robust economic progress.

Indonesians are equally positive, with 72% taking the view their country is on the right path. That said, a lesser percentage (60%) 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 55% of respondents highlighting it – and poverty and social inequality, which received 47% of the vote.

A stellar endorsement of the country's government, 76% of Singaporeans say the nation is heading in the right direction, while 70% believe the economy is performing well.

But it's not all smooth sailing in Singapore. Inflation (51%) 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 (44%) comes in second place.

Singaporeans are also more stressed about coronavirus than any other nation; according to the latest edition of What Worries the World, 18% are worried about COVID-19, well above the global average of 4%. On the bright side, comparatively few residents are worried about financial/political corruption and crime and violence, which are relatively uncommon in Singapore.

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