New Delhi: A groundbreaking United Nations report has unveiled a troubling reality: billions of people worldwide are caught in a web of economic uncertainty, widening wealth gaps, and crumbling trust in institutions. The World Social Report 2025, released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in partnership with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), delivers a stark warning about the escalating social crisis that imperils global stability. As the world prepares for the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, this November, the report demands urgent action to rebuild societies on the pillars of fairness, security, and unity.
The Global Social Crisis: A Snapshot of Struggle
The World Social Report 2025 reveals a world where progress in longevity, education, and technology is overshadowed by widespread despair. Surveys cited in the report show that 60% of people globally feel they are “struggling” to get by, while 12% describe their lives as “suffering.” Many believe that life today is harder than it was five decades ago, reflecting a profound loss of hope in the future.
Economic insecurity is a central driver of this discontent. More than 2.8 billion people—over one-third of the global population—survive on less than $6.85 a day, just above the extreme poverty threshold of $2.15. For these individuals, a single setback, such as illness or unemployment, can erase years of progress and push them back into destitution. The report highlights that poverty reduction efforts, while significant, are fragile, with many unable to achieve lasting economic stability.
Work, traditionally a pathway out of poverty, has become a source of anxiety. Globally, 60% of people fear losing their jobs and doubt their ability to find new ones. In low- and middle-income countries, informal employment dominates, offering no safety net, meager wages, and no benefits. Even in wealthier nations, the rise of gig work and automation has created a new class of precarious workers, stripped of job security and labor rights.
Widening Wealth Gaps Fuel Division
The report exposes a sharp increase in inequality as a major threat to social harmony. Over the last 30 years, income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, has risen in 52 of 128 countries, including economic giants like China and India, as well as most high-income nations. Today, 65% of the world’s population lives in countries where the wealth gap is growing, deepening divisions based on race, caste, birthplace, and family background.
This concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few erodes the social contract and fuels resentment. The report warns that without swift intervention, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the commitment to reduce inequality by 2030, will remain elusive. Inequality not only limits opportunity but also undermines the collective trust needed for societies to thrive.
The Erosion of Trust: A Global Concern
A striking finding of the World Social Report 2025 is the global collapse of trust. More than 57% of people worldwide have little faith in their governments, with trust levels plummeting even further among those born in the 21st century. This generational skepticism signals a growing risk of political disengagement and instability, as young people feel disconnected from the systems meant to serve them.
Trust between individuals is also in decline. In countries with available data, fewer than 30% of people believe that others can be trusted, weakening the bonds that hold communities together. The report points to digital technologies as a key culprit, with social media platforms amplifying misinformation and disinformation. Algorithms that prioritize sensational content create isolated “echo chambers,” where users are exposed only to views that reinforce their biases, often radicalizing opinions and deepening societal rifts.
Climate and Conflict: Amplifying Vulnerability
The report underscores how climate change and conflict exacerbate economic and social challenges. Rising temperatures, floods, and droughts devastate livelihoods, particularly in developing nations where communities lack the resources to adapt. These environmental shocks push millions into poverty and destabilize local economies, creating a vicious cycle of hardship.
Conflict, meanwhile, destroys infrastructure, displaces populations, and fuels inequality. The report notes that violence and political unrest disrupt economic progress and erode trust, making recovery increasingly difficult. Together, these crises threaten to unravel decades of development gains, leaving vulnerable populations even further behind.
A Bold Vision for Change
To confront this crisis, the World Social Report 2025 calls for a new approach to policymaking, anchored in three principles: fairness, economic security, and unity. Drawing inspiration from the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration, which championed people-centered development, the report offers a roadmap to restore stability and hope:
- Prioritize Human Development: Governments must invest heavily in education, healthcare, housing, and social protection to empower individuals and build resilient societies. These services are not luxuries but necessities for inclusive growth.
- Ensure Economic Stability: Policies should focus on creating secure, well-paying jobs and reducing dependence on informal and gig work. Strengthening worker protections and addressing the challenges of digital transitions are critical to restoring dignity to labor.
- Foster Trustworthy Institutions: Governments must build inclusive, transparent institutions that serve all citizens. Reducing the concentration of wealth and power is essential to rebuilding public confidence and promoting equity.
- Tackle Digital Division: Regulating social media to curb misinformation and promote constructive dialogue is vital for fostering unity and countering polarization.
The report emphasizes that these measures are urgent and non-negotiable. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres writes, “The global challenges we face demand collective solutions. Now more than ever, we must strengthen our resolve to come together and build a world that is more just, secure, resilient, and united.”
The Doha Summit: A Pivotal Moment
The Second World Summit for Social Development, set for November 4–6, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, offers a critical opportunity to act on the report’s recommendations. The summit will bring together global leaders to evaluate progress and commit to bold policies addressing insecurity, inequality, and distrust. UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua stressed the need for systemic change, noting that current policies are failing to keep pace with rapid societal shifts.
The summit will serve as a platform to rally international cooperation and accelerate progress toward the SDGs, which are currently “woefully off track,” according to Guterres. By fostering dialogue and action, the event aims to chart a path toward a more equitable and cohesive world.
Why This Matters Today
The World Social Report 2025 is a wake-up call for a world at a tipping point. Economic uncertainty, environmental crises, and social fragmentation are not abstract issues—they affect billions of lives daily. Families struggle to afford basics, young people lose faith in their prospects, and communities fracture under the weight of mistrust.
For policymakers, the report offers a clear mandate: invest in people, reform institutions, and bridge divides. For citizens, it is a reminder of the power of collective action to demand change. The stakes could not be higher, as the choices made today will shape the future for generations.
Conclusion: Building a Better Future
The World Social Report 2025 is both a warning and a beacon of hope. It lays bare the challenges of a world grappling with insecurity, inequality, and distrust, but it also offers a vision for a better future—one where fairness, security, and unity prevail. As the global community prepares for the Doha summit, the report’s message is clear: the time for action is now. By coming together, we can build a world that works for everyone, leaving no one behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is the World Social Report 2025?
The World Social Report 2025 is a flagship publication by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), co-produced with the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER). It analyzes global social development issues, highlighting a deepening crisis driven by economic insecurity, inequality, and declining trust, and proposes a policy framework based on equity, economic security, and solidarity.
2.What are the key issues highlighted in the report?
The report identifies three major challenges:
Declining Trust: 57% of people globally have low confidence in governments, and fewer than 30% trust others, worsened by misinformation on digital platforms.
Economic Insecurity: Over 2.8 billion people live on less than $6.85 a day, vulnerable to poverty from minor setbacks, with 60% fearing job loss.
- Rising Inequality: Income inequality has increased in 52 of 128 countries over 30 years, deepening divisions based on race, caste, and background.
3.What solutions does the report propose to address the global social crisis?
The report calls for a new policy consensus rooted in equity, economic security, and solidarity, including:
Regulating digital platforms to combat misinformation and polarization.
Investing in education, healthcare, housing, and social protection.
- Creating secure, dignified jobs and reducing informal and gig work.
- Building inclusive, trustworthy institutions to restore public confidence.
4.How do climate change and conflict contribute to the social crisis?
Climate change, through extreme weather and environmental degradation, devastates livelihoods, particularly in developing nations, pushing millions into poverty. Conflicts disrupt economies, displace communities, and fuel inequality, eroding trust and stability. Both exacerbate economic insecurity and hinder progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
5.What is the significance of the Second World Summit for Social Development?
Scheduled for November 4–6, 2025, in Doha, Qatar, the summit is a critical platform for global leaders to address the report’s findings. It aims to assess progress, commit to bold policies, and foster international cooperation to tackle insecurity, inequality, and distrust, accelerating progress toward the SDGs.
