A new United Nations report warns that economic uncertainty, conflict, and climate shocks are plunging billions of people into deeper insecurity, fueling a collapse of trust in governments and institutions worldwide.
According to the World Social Report 2025, launched Thursday, fear of job loss and financial instability is no longer confined to poorer regions—it’s now a global phenomenon impacting every corner of the world.
Despite historic gains in education, healthcare, and technology, many people today feel worse off than previous generations, with nearly 60% of surveyed individuals saying they are “struggling” and another 12% describing themselves as “suffering.”
Global Instability: A New Normal
The report highlights a growing sense of vulnerability across all income levels:
- Even in high-income countries, gig work and the digital economy are creating jobs that offer flexibility at the cost of security, rights, and long-term stability.
- Informal employment dominates in many low- and middle-income countries, leaving millions trapped in low-wage, precarious work without social protections.
- More than 2.8 billion people live on less than $6.85 per day, where any minor economic shock can force families back into extreme poverty.
The challenges are made worse by the increasing impact of climate change, armed conflicts, and widening inequality, particularly across developing regions.
Trust in Freefall
As economic pressures mount, public trust in institutions is crumbling:
- 57% of the global population now expresses low confidence in their governments.
- Among younger generations, trust levels are even lower, sparking fears of long-term civic disengagement.
- Fewer than 30% of people believe that most others can be trusted, eroding social cohesion and making collective action even harder.
The UN report also highlights the toxic role of misinformation spread through digital platforms, where algorithm-driven echo chambers amplify division and radicalize opinions.
A Call for Bold, People-Centered Policies
The World Social Report 2025 calls for urgent action to reverse these damaging trends:
- Invest in public services: education, healthcare, housing, and social protection must be strengthened.
- Rebuild trust: by creating inclusive, accountable institutions that genuinely represent and serve their people.
- Address inequality: by ensuring wealth and power are distributed more fairly across societies.
These steps are essential not just for economic recovery, but for rebuilding public confidence and ensuring inclusive, sustainable growth.
The Path Forward: Global Unity Needed
In his foreword to the report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that today’s interconnected challenges can only be solved through collective action:
“Now more than ever, we must strengthen our resolve to come together and build a world that is more just, secure, resilient, and united for each and every one of us.”
As the world prepares for the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha this November, global leaders are being urged to prioritize solidarity, economic security, and renewed multilateral cooperation to build a better future for all.
