LONDON (Realist English). Public optimism has taken a marked downturn in 2025, with just 59% of citizens worldwide saying they feel positive about themselves and their families, and only 45% expressing optimism about their cities or towns, according to the ninth edition of the Ipsos Global Trends report released this week. The figures represent a seven-point drop compared to the previous year and highlight mounting unease in societies worldwide.
Ipsos researchers link the decline to turbulence in 2024, when half of the global population went to the polls and most incumbent governments lost power or political share. The report suggests this electoral churn has accelerated divisions identified earlier under the themes of “Splintered Societies” and “Globalisation Fractures.” Rising domestic and international conflicts, growing hostility toward immigration, and nationalist economic policies are all reshaping the global outlook.
Jennifer Bender, global head of trends and foresight at Ipsos, noted that the 2020s appear to be “defined by persistent tensions,” citing sharper geopolitical conflict, the mainstreaming of artificial intelligence, and shifting social values.
Among the key findings:
- Technology divides: 56% of respondents fear technology could damage their lives, though more people now view AI’s impact positively and acknowledge excessive privacy concerns.
- Gender debate: 61% of global citizens say there are only two genders, up from 53% last year, reflecting polarization on gender identity issues.
- Immigration concerns: Two-thirds (65%) of those surveyed believe there are “too many immigrants” in their country, a four-point rise from 2024.
- Values-driven spending: 52% say they are willing to pay more for brands that align with their personal values, up from 39% in 2013.
The report also highlights stark regional contrasts: optimism is stronger in Indonesia and Peru, but lags in South Korea and Japan; attitudes toward AI vary widely across markets.
Ipsos emphasizes that these shifts, tracked across 43 countries and based on over 5 million data points, will have significant implications for business leaders and policymakers navigating what it calls an “uneasy decade.”
