The World Social Report 2025, co-produced by UN DESA and UNU-WIDER and published in April 2025, sounds an urgent alarm on a mounting global social crisis triggered by economic insecurity, rising inequality, and collapsing trust. It calls for a transformative policy consensus centered on equity, economic security for all, and solidarity.
Key Insights
A Deepening Social Crisis
Despite decades of poverty reduction and rising wellbeing, more than one-third of the global population (2.8 billion people) still lives on just US $2.15 to $6.85 a day. Many remain perilously close to extreme poverty, and even minor setbacks can reverse gains.Economic Insecurity and Fragile Employment
Around 60% of people worldwide worry about losing their jobs and struggling to find new ones. Informal and precarious employment continues to dominate in low- and middle-income countries, further deepening economic instability.Rising Inequality
Income inequality is growing in nearly two-thirds of countries. Structural disparities—rooted in race, caste, place of birth, and family background—remain persistent, threatening the goal of “leaving no one behind” by 2030.Eroding Trust and Social Cohesion
Over half of the global population exhibits little to no trust in their government. Trust has been declining across successive generations. Social cohesion is waning, and misinformation and disinformation are exacerbating societal fragmentation.Systemic Failures of Market-First Policies
Decades of deregulation, privatization, and austerity have contributed to social backlash, increased distrust, and exacerbated inequality—highlighting the limitations of market-focused development frameworks.A Call for a New Social Contract
The report urges a paradigm shift toward a policy consensus grounded in equity, economic security for all, and solidarity. It recommends integrated policymaking that prioritizes decent work, universal social protection, investment in people, fair taxation, and stronger, more inclusive institutions.
