Crime and illicit economic activity Critical change to Earth systems Biological, chemical or nuclear weapons or hazards Geoeconomic confrontation Economic downturn Asset bubble burst Inﬂation Inequality Lack of economic opportunity or unemployment Insuf ficient public infrastructure and social protections Infectious diseases Non-weather related natural disasters 7 8 8 8 Disruptions to critical infrastructure 4 12 5 Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse 5 7 Pollution 3 23rd 24th 26th 28th 9th 1st 11th 21st 18th 22nd 7th 13th 20th 27th 32ndStable level of concern Biggest increase in ranking Biggest fall in ranking Overall rankingChange in short-term (2 years) global risks perception from last year FIGURE 13 Source World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2025-2026Risk categories Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal TechnologicalIn contrast, economic risks have some of the sharpest rises in ranking compared with last year. Economic downturn at #11 and Inflation at #21 are each up eight positions from last year, followed closely by Asset bubble burst at #18, which increased seven positions. Disruptions to critical infrastructure is also up four positions to #22. Civil societyInternational organizations Academia Government Private sector 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10thGlobal risks, short term (2 years), by stakeholder group FIGURE 14 Source World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2025-2026Note Sample size by stakeholder group varied, and all respondents were weighted equally for the purposes of global rankings. The results are based on the following: academia, n=312 (24% of total); business, n=495 (38%); civil society, n=169 (13%); government, n=124 (10%); international organization, n=129 (10%); and other, n=61 (5%).Risk categories Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technological Global Risks Report 2026 17