Analyzes the most pressing global risks, highlighting the interconnected challenges across geopolitical, environmental, societal, and technological domains. Based on insights from over 900 experts, the report outlines risks over three-time horizons: immediate (2025), short—to medium-term (2027), and long-term (2035). It underscores the urgency of coordinated action to navigate a deeply interconnected and volatile global landscape. It highlights that leaders can only address these escalating risks and work toward a more resilient future through collaborative efforts.

Key Findings

1. Immediate Risks (2025):
   • State-Based Armed Conflict: Identified as the top immediate risk, reflecting escalating geopolitical tensions and conflicts in regions like Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan.
   • Misinformation and Disinformation: A persistent short-term threat, eroding trust and exacerbating societal polarization.
   • Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity due to climate change, disrupting communities and economies.
   • Other risks include cyber threats, resource shortages, and societal instability.
2. Short- to Medium-Term Risks (2027):
   • Geopolitical Fragmentation: Rising trade wars, sanctions, and resource nationalism contribute to economic tensions.
   • Technological Vulnerabilities: Cyber espionage and adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence are growing concerns.
   • Environmental crises like biodiversity loss and pollution remain critical challenges.
3. Long-Term Risks (2035):
   • Environmental risks dominate, with extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and pollution ranked top concerns.
   • Technological risks, such as AI misuse and frontier technology failures, also emerge as significant threats.

Broader Themes

• Environmental Urgency: Climate-related risks have shifted from long-term concerns to immediate crises. Extreme weather events are ranked as the top risk over the next decade.
• Declining Optimism: The global outlook is increasingly pessimistic, with high risks of miscalculation by political or military actors in a fractured geopolitical landscape.
• Societal Vulnerabilities: Polarization, inequality, and economic instability complicate efforts for collective action on global challenges.

Recommendations

• Global Collaboration: Strengthening multilateral cooperation to address interconnected crises.
• Proactive Governance: Implementing systemic approaches to manage geopolitical tensions, environmental degradation, and technological risks.
• Sustainability Integration: Embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into risk management frameworks.

Overview

Chapter 1: Global Risks 2025: A world of growing divisions

Analyzes the current global risk landscape, emphasizing the socio-political dynamics shaping these risks. It reveals a world fractured by significant divisions—geopolitical tensions, societal polarization, and technological changes have created a precarious global landscape. At this critical juncture, the report urges stakeholders to engage proactively and develop collaborative strategies to build a more stable and united future.

Geopolitical Climate

• Examines how recent global events—particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and intensifying conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan—have shaped perceptions of global risks. These geopolitical tensions have far-reaching consequences for global stability, creating ripple effects on economic stability, migration patterns, and international relations.

Top Global Risks for 2025

• State-Based Armed Conflict: The Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) found that 23% of respondents identified state-based armed conflict as the foremost global risk for 2025. This represents a notable increase in concern compared to previous assessments, positioning armed conflict at the top of the risk hierarchy.
• Geoeconomic Confrontation: Concurrent with military conflicts, geoeconomic confrontations—like sanctions, tariffs, and investment screening—rank third among identified risks. This reflects how economic tools are increasingly used in the geopolitical arena, further polarizing international relationships and complicating global trade.

Societal Polarization and Inequality

• Highlights the role of societal polarization and economic inequality as significant drivers of instability. Intertwining these factors with geopolitical risks leads to a compounded effect, eroding trust in institutions and challenging societies’ resilience. Disparities in wealth and opportunity can exacerbate unrest and contribute to the rise of extremist ideologies.

Declining Optimism

• As survey respondents look toward 2025, there is a palpable sense of declining optimism regarding global stability and cooperation. The report notes that many see the current geopolitical dynamics leading to a fractured international landscape, marked by increasing mistrust and polarization across nations and within societies.

Technological Influence

• The influence of technology is multifaceted in this context. While technological advancements have the potential for positive change, they also spread misinformation and polarization. The rapid dissemination of information, often unchecked, creates challenges for social cohesion and can amplify divisions.

Immediate and Medium-Term Risks

• Distinguishes between immediate risks expected in 2025 and those that may evolve into medium-term challenges by 2027. It posits that immediate crises—whether political, environmental, or economic—have the potential to interlink and deepen over time, resulting in a more complex risk landscape. Stakeholders must prepare for this evolving reality.

Call to Action

• The narrative throughout the chapter advocates for urgent collective action. It emphasizes the need for multilateral collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society, and international organizations to address the escalating risks. Enhanced dialogue, transparency, and trust-building are essential to creating resilient societies capable of navigating these complex challenges.

Chapter 2: Global Risks 2035: The point of no return

Provides a forward-looking analysis of risks anticipated through 2035, emphasizing the urgency of addressing them while examining their long-term implications. Chapter 2 of the Global Risks Report 2025 charts a challenging path toward 2035, highlighting how collaboration, proactive risk management, and strategic foresight are crucial to avoid reaching a point of no return. The interconnected nature of global risks adds complexity to this landscape, making a collective approach essential for building a resilient future.

Long-Term Risk Landscape

• Sets the stage by noting that many current risks will intensify as we approach 2035. Survey respondents express a stark sense of foreboding, indicating that the global risks landscape is expected to become even more complex and severe without concerted action.

Deteriorating Optimism

• Survey findings reveal a marked decline in optimism regarding the world’s outlook for the future. Many respondents predict the next decade could involve significant turbulence characterized by various interconnected risks. Approximately 62% foresee a tumultuous trajectory, emphasizing the importance of immediate and proactive measures to mitigate these risks.

Interconnected Risk Dynamics

• Emphasizes that the risks identified earlier are not isolated but interlinked. The relationships between environmental risks (e.g., climate change), socio-economic inequalities, technological advancements, and geopolitical tensions exacerbate the overall risk landscape. For example, climate-related events might prompt migration, generating societal tensions and conflict.

Key Risk Themes

• Pollution: Pollution is a growing concern, with potential adverse effects on public health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Failing to address pollution might compound existing problems, worsening health crises, and degrading natural resources.
• Biotechnology: Biotechnology presents both opportunities and challenges. While advancements can lead to significant benefits in health and agriculture, concerns about ethical considerations, safety, and public trust are paramount. The chapter highlights the need for robust governance frameworks to manage these advancements responsibly.
• Super-Ageing Societies: As populations age, societies will face unique challenges, including increased healthcare costs, labor shortages, and the need for infrastructure that accommodates older individuals. The report warns that neglecting these challenges could exacerbate socio-economic inequalities and strain public services.

The Tipping Point

• The title “The Point of No Return” underscores a critical notion: if proactive steps are not taken to mitigate these risks, we may reach a point where the damage becomes irreversible. This stresses the urgency of meaningful interventions across all sectors to foster resilience and adaptability in the face of impending challenges.

Need for Collaborative Action

• Calls for a collective, multi-stakeholder approach to navigating the risks leading up to 2035. Governments, businesses, civil society groups, and international organizations must collaborate to develop and implement comprehensive risk management strategies. The risks’ interdependence necessitates a unified response.

Retrospective Insights

• Reflects on previous findings from the Global Risks Reports, highlighting how risk perceptions have evolved over the last two decades. This historical perspective provides context to the current risk landscape and underlines the growing urgency for addressing emerging threats.

Strategic Considerations

• Suggests strategic considerations for stakeholders moving forward. This includes fostering long-term thinking, enhancing foresight capabilities, investing in innovative solutions, and creating flexible governance structures that adapt to rapidly changing conditions.