Pew Research Centre Report on Global Economy

 Why in the news ? 

Between March 24 and 30, 2025, the Pew Research Center carried out a survey across 25 countries, including India, to assess perceptions of global threats such as:

1. Spread of false information online
2. Global economy
3. Climate change
4. Terrorism
5. Infectious diseases

It compared results with earlier Pew surveys (2013–2022) and presented separate findings for nine advanced economies (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the U.K., U.S.).

Key Findings of the 2025 Survey

False information online – the biggest global concern

• Across 25 countries, nearly 72% of adults, on average, viewed it as a significant threat.
• Seen as a greater threat than any other issue in countries like Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, U.K., U.S., and South Korea.
• Only 5% of respondents viewed it as completely harmless.

Global Economy:

• In 25 countries, the median share of adults who considered it a major threat was 70%.
• Japan, Greece, and Australia, the global economy was seen as the single biggest threat.
• In the nine advanced economies, people were more worried about the economy than climate change (first time since 2017).

Climate Change:

• Median 67% called it a major threat.
• No country saw it as the greatest threat, but concern was higher among the ideological left, younger people, and the highly educated.
• Right-leaning groups and older adults were less concerned..

Terrorism:

• Median 69% globally saw it as a major threat.
• But in some countries like India, Israel, Nigeria, and Turkey, terrorism was seen as the top threat.
• The level of concern is greater in middle-income countries (79%) compared to high-income nations (60%).
• More feared among older adults, less educated groups, and right-leaning voters.

Infectious Diseases:

• Concern varied across regions.
• It was considered the main threat in Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, and Mexico.
• Still seen as significant in most other countries, though slightly lower than terrorism, economy, or misinformation.

India-Specific Results

• Least worried about the global economy: Only 49% of Indians said it was a major threat → lowest among all 25 nations.
• Climate change: 55% saw it as a major threat (again among the lowest globally).
• Terrorism: 79% of Indians considered it a major threat → one of the highest levels worldwide.

False online information & infectious diseases: Around 70% each saw them as threats.