Global Risks Report

The Global Risks Report is an annual publication prepared by the World Economic Forum (WEF) that assesses the most significant threats likely to affect the world in the short, medium, and long term. It analyses risks across economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological domains, providing insights for policymakers, businesses, and civil society. The report is based on expert opinions, survey data, and analysis of global trends, aiming to enhance preparedness and resilience.

Background

The Global Risks Report was first launched in 2006 and has since become one of the most influential assessments of global uncertainty. It is developed with contributions from international institutions, academic researchers, private sector leaders, and governmental bodies. The report draws heavily on the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS), which gathers views from thousands of experts and decision-makers worldwide.
The report is intended to help governments and organisations anticipate emerging challenges, identify vulnerabilities, and develop strategies for risk mitigation.

Categories of Risks

The report classifies risks into five broad categories:

• Economic risks: Financial crises, inflation, debt distress, unemployment, and trade disruptions.
• Environmental risks: Climate change, biodiversity loss, extreme weather events, and natural resource crises.
• Geopolitical risks: Armed conflicts, state collapse, terrorism, and disruptions to global governance.
• Societal risks: Public health crises, involuntary migration, food and water insecurity, and erosion of social cohesion.
• Technological risks: Cyberattacks, data theft, artificial intelligence misuse, and breakdown of digital infrastructure.

Key Features

• Short-, medium-, and long-term outlooks: Risks are prioritised by their perceived likelihood and impact over time horizons such as 2 years, 10 years, and beyond.
• Interconnectedness of risks: The report highlights how one risk can trigger or intensify others, such as climate change worsening food insecurity or geopolitical conflict disrupting supply chains.
• Case studies and scenarios: Real-world examples and hypothetical futures are included to illustrate risk dynamics.
• Regional perspectives: The report also considers how risks manifest differently across regions.

Recent Findings

In recent editions, some recurring themes have been emphasised:

• Climate change and environmental degradation consistently rank as the most pressing long-term global risks.
• Pandemics and public health crises gained prominence following the COVID-19 outbreak, highlighting vulnerabilities in health systems.
• Geopolitical tensions such as wars, energy crises, and disruptions to global supply chains are increasingly viewed as urgent.
• Technological risks related to cybersecurity, misinformation, and the governance of emerging technologies have grown in importance.
• Economic instability due to inflation, rising debt, and inequality poses challenges to both developed and developing economies.

Applications

The Global Risks Report is widely used by:

• Governments, for integrating risk perspectives into national security and development planning.
• Businesses, to refine risk management strategies and strengthen resilience against shocks.
• International organisations, to design collaborative responses to transboundary risks.
• Academic and policy researchers, as a framework for studying systemic vulnerabilities.

Criticism and Limitations

Although influential, the report faces certain limitations:

• Subjectivity: The GRPS relies on expert perception, which may reflect biases.
• Predictive limits: While useful for risk awareness, it cannot always predict the exact timing or severity of crises.
• Action gap: Despite highlighting urgent risks, translating insights into concrete policy change remains challenging.
• Western-centric perspectives: Some critics argue that the analysis reflects priorities of industrialised nations more than those of developing regions.

Significance

The Global Risks Report serves as a crucial tool for understanding the complex, interconnected risks shaping the 21st century. It raises awareness of systemic threats, encourages proactive risk management, and promotes global cooperation. By emphasising preparedness and resilience, the report underscores the need for collective action to address challenges that transcend borders, sectors, and generations.