2019 World Risk Poll

The first edition of the World Risk Poll was based on interviews with over 150,000 people in 142 countries, including places where little or no official data on safety and risk exists.

A woman and child walking in the rain in India.

Your point of easy access to the main findings of the 2019 World Risk Poll.

The 2019 World Risk Poll explores a variety of themes, including food and water safety, occupational health and safety, and climate change.

Download the 2019 Report

Executive Summary Full Report

Stories

A photograph of a woman using a sewing machine in a garment factory.

Women across the world fear violence and harassment at work

New research assessing risk and safety issues across the world shows that in some countries as many as 75 percent of female workers are concerned about experiencing violence and harassment in the workplace.

A farmer in Asia, shown working in a field.

19% of workers worldwide seriously injured at work

How we earn a living remains a major threat to our physical and mental health, affecting people in different ways depending on where they live on the planet.

60% of people worry about the safety of their food

The World Risk Poll data reveals that most of the world is worried they will be harmed by the food they eat every day.

‘Fake news’ is the number one worry for internet users worldwide

New data from the Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll shows that internet users across the world regard 'fake news' as their number one online worry.

Aerial shot of someone on their back reading Greta Thunberg's book

The majority of people around the world are concerned about climate change

Forty-one per cent of people globally sees climate change as a ‘very serious threat’ to their country, with 28 per cent being “somewhat concerned”.

Liberia tops the world for experience of harm from everyday risk

The World Risk Poll has created a new index called the Experience of Harm Index, which highlights the countries where citizens have the highest levels of experience of everyday risk.

A group of people at a conference, assumed to be leading dignitaries.

Governments in 25% of countries are not trusted to provide safe food, water and power

Governments across the world are failing to win the confidence of their populations in the provision of critical basic infrastructure including food, water and power.

A photo of a group of young people at a climate march.

34% of people worldwide worry about serious harm from severe weather

Across the world, the top three countries where people worry most are all in Africa – Mozambique, Guinea, and Malawi – with all three countries worrying most about severe weather.

A photograph of two elderly Japanese ladies selling food at a market. They are both wearing face masks.

Pre-pandemic insight provides invaluable benchmark for the future

The World Risk Poll was conducted in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The poll therefore provides a unique benchmark of global attitudes to risk and safety against which later surveys can be measured.

A photograph from space of the Earth. You can see lights representing densely-populated areas.

New risk indexes rank countries by worry levels, harm experienced and government safety performance

At the heart of the World Risk Poll are three new indexes which track risk across the world.