The Global Risks Report 2024

Inflation PollutionRisk perceptions by age over the short term (2 years) FIGURE 1.6 Source World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2022-2023.NoteEach column represents the top 10 risks by age group, ordered by global ranking rather than within-age group rankings, to visualize common themes in risk perceptions. Sample size by age group varied, and all respondents were weighted equally for the purposes of global rankings. These results are based on approximately the following: <30, n=183 (12% of total); 30-39, n=250 (17%); 40-49, n=396 (27%); 50-59, n=406 (27%); 60-69, n=183 (12%); and 70+, n=69 (5%). Misinformation and disinformation Extreme weather events Societal polarization Cyber insecurity Interstate armed conflictRisk categories Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technological Lack of economic opportunity Involuntary migration Economic downturn Critical change to Earth systems Technological power concentration Natural resource shortages Geoeconomic confrontation Erosion of human rights Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse<30 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+Misinformation and disinformation has risen rapidly in rankings to first place for the two-year time frame, and the risk is likely to become more acute as elections in several economies take place this year (Chapter 1.3: False information). Societal polarization is the third-most severe risk over the short term, and a consistent concern across nearly all stakeholder groupings (Figures 1.5 and 1.6). Divisive factors such as political polarization and economic hardship are diminishing trust and a sense of shared values. The erosion of social cohesion is leaving ample room for new and evolving risks to propagate in turn. Societal polarization, alongside Economic downturn, is seen as one of the most central risks in the interconnected “risks network”, with the greatest potential to trigger and be influenced by other risks (Figure 1.7). Global Risks Report 2024 16