The 20th edition of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, released today, reveals an increasingly fractured global landscape, where escalating geopolitical, environmental, societal and technological challenges threaten stability and progress. While economic risks have less immediate prominence in this year’s survey results, they remain a concern, interconnected with societal and geopolitical tensions.
State-based armed conflict is identified as the most pressing immediate global risk for 2025, with nearly one-quarter of respondents ranking it as the most severe concern for the year ahead.
Misinformation and disinformation remain top short-term risks for the second consecutive year, underlining their persistent threat to societal cohesion and governance by eroding trust and exacerbating divisions within and between nations. Other leading short-term risks include extreme weather events, societal polarization, cyber-espionage and warfare.
Environmental risks dominate the longer-term outlook, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, critical change to Earth systems and natural resources shortages leading the 10-year risk rankings. The fifth environmental risk in the top 10 is pollution, which is also perceived as a leading risk in the short term. Its sixth-place ranking in the short term reflects a growing recognition of the serious health and ecosystem impacts of a wide range of pollutants across air, water and land. Overall, extreme weather events were identified prominently as immediate, short-term and long-term risks.
The long-term landscape is also clouded by technological risks related to misinformation, disinformation and adverse outcomes of AI technologies.
A decisive decade: Collaboration as the key to stability
As divisions deepen and fragmentation reshapes geopolitical and economic landscapes, the need for effective global cooperation has never been more urgent. Yet, with 64% of experts anticipating a fragmented global order marked by competition among middle and great powers, multilateralism faces significant strain.
However, turning inward is not a viable solution. The decade ahead presents a pivotal moment for leaders to navigate complex, interconnected risks and address the limitations of existing governance structures. To prevent a downward spiral of instability – and instead rebuild trust, enhance resilience, and secure a sustainable and inclusive future for all – nations should prioritize dialogue, strengthen international ties and foster conditions for renewed collaboration.
Links to other visuals and graphics
- Current Risk Landscape – 2025
- Global risks ranked by severity- 2 years
- Global Risks ranked by severity – 10 years
- Short and long-term global outlook
- Global risks landscape an interconnections map
For more information, visit the Global Risks Initiative and read the full report here.
INDUSTRY COMMENTS
Frank Streidl, Head of Commercial at Zurich UK:
“The global risk report provides an effective acid test of the challenges we need to be aligned to in our businesses. For us and our customers, we must focus on what is in our sphere of control with a really clear objective of prevention rather than cure. This requires many levels of investment which will pay dividend in the future. This is particularly relevant to climate and subsequent extreme weather which are becoming more dominant every day – what we must avoid is doing nothing. Whilst we are in a challenging operating environment, collaboration and cross industry learnings are key for our industry.”
James Crask, Global Head of Multinational Clients at Marsh:
“The increasingly fractured global landscape has created a volatile operating environment for UK business leaders, who are grappling with interconnected crises across multiple markets. Organisations that have focussed on efficiency and cost savings at the expense of resilience are now looking vulnerable. The complex risk environment we are experiencing calls for a more balanced debate on where to look for savings, and where to invest in resilience.”
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