What does the world worry about in 2017?

What does the world worry about? Unemployment is the top worry in 2017 says a new global poll.

The majority of people across 26 countries in the world think that their country is on the wrong track in terms of employment. People in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea, Italy, and France are the most concerned.

‘’What Worries the World’’ is a monthly online survey, or poll, of adults aged under 65 in 26 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Peru, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and the United States.

Across the 26 countries surveyed, 60% of polled participants thought that their country was on the wrong track (down 1% from last month – May 2017).

In China, 92% of people polled think that their country is going in the right direction. So too does 74% of people in India and 74% of people in Saudi Arabia.

Only 10% of people in South Africa think that their country is going in the right direction, with 13% in Mexico, 13% in Brazil, 16% in South Korea, 18% in Italy, and 18% in France – all representing the most concerned countries.

The three major worries for global citizens are consistently (1) unemployment, (2) financial or political corruption, and (3) poverty or social inequality.

In terms of unemployment, the highest level of concern is in Italy with 65% of people polled. People in Germany is least worried (10%).

For financial or political corruption, the highest level of concern is in South Africa with 65% of people polled. People in Sweden are least worried (7%).

For poverty or social inequality, the highest level of concern is in Hungary (57%) with the people in the United States of America being the leat worried about poverty (17%).

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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