Worry about crime is at its highest level since before the pandemic (32%)
However, inflation remains the number one concern with 38% choosing it as an issue.
Worry about crime on a global level has been steadily rising this year. At the beginning of the year one in four (26%) said crime was a major issue in their market and this month worry about crime is at one of its highest levels over the last eight years. In February 2018, 35% choose crime as a concern, the highest score since 2015.
In September 2023, looking at what is happening at a country level, South Korea has seen the biggest rise in worry, up 18pp. Over four in ten (42%) say it is one of the top issues affecting the country. This comes on the back of a series of violent attacks in the country. In February this year concern for crime was only 7%, ranking behind other issues like inflation and unemployment. Over the last eight years this is the first time that crime & violence has been the top issue for South Koreans.
Peru is now the most concerned country about crime. In September it has seen a 6pp increase in worry, with 63% now choosing it as a concern.
Inflation
Almost four in ten (38%) across 29 countries choose inflation as the one of the biggest concerns in their country. It has now been the number concern in What Worries the World for the last 18 months.
Argentina is the most concerned country with two-thirds (66%) saying it is a worry. Singapore is second after a 10pp increase in worry since last month with six in ten (59%) picking the cost of living as an issue.
Canada, Turkey and Australia make up the rest of the top five.
Indonesia remains the least concerned country about inflation with less than one in five (17%) singling it out as one of the top worries facing the country.
Climate change
One in five (19%) choose climate change as one of the biggest worries in their country and it ranks seventh out of 18 worries in our survey.
This month, Japan is the most concerned country with one in three (32%) picking it as an issue. Spain sees its record level of concern for climate change this month with 26% choosing it as a worry. This beats the country’s previous high last September of 25%.
Right direction vs. wrong track
In September, Germany has recorded its lowest right direction score in the last decade; only one in four (24%) say the country is headed in the right direction. Germany's right direction score has been on a steady decline since March 2022, when 46% said the country was on a good path. In the last two months, its score has fallen 16pp.
This is reflected in how Germans view the economy in the country. 36% describe the country’s economy as good, Germany’s lowest ever “good” economy score.