New York: Europe and the Arabs
Despite significant gains in this area, many people around the world remain on the brink of poverty, with nearly 60% of people worried about losing their jobs, according to a United Nations report that warned of a deepening social crisis due to economic insecurity, staggering levels of inequality, and declining social trust. According to the UN Daily News Bulletin, the report issued by the UN Commission on Economic and Social Affairs calls for immediate and decisive policy action to address these alarming trends.
The World Social Report 2025 stated that more than 2.8 billion people—more than a third of the world's population—live in poverty, living on between $2.15 and $6.85 a day. Even a minor setback can push people back into extreme poverty.
Global Concern Over Job Loss
Widespread employment instability is exacerbating economic uncertainty, with nearly 60% of people worldwide worried about losing their jobs and being unable to find new ones.
Meanwhile, 65 percent of the world's population lives in countries experiencing rising income inequality. A significant portion of total income inequality is still attributed to disparities based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, place of birth, and family background.
Without urgent action, the Sustainable Development Goals' goal of "leaving no one behind" will remain out of reach by 2030 unless progress accelerates.
Half of the world's population lacks trust in their governments.
Growing insecurity and inequality are undermining social cohesion and straining the foundations of solidarity and pluralism. More than half of the world's population has little or no trust in their governments.
Alarmingly, levels of trust are declining from generation to generation, indicating a systemic breakdown in social cohesion. The rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation is exacerbating these disturbing trends.
While recent crises have highlighted acute insecurity and mistrust, the report emphasizes that these social challenges are deep and have accumulated over decades. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: “Inequality, insecurity, and mistrust are deeply rife around the world. Countless people struggle to make ends meet while wealth and power concentrate at the top. Economic shocks, conflicts, and climate disasters continue to erase hard-won development gains. For too many, life is characterized by uncertainty and insecurity, which in turn fuels frustration and deepens divisions. The Sustainable Development Goals are far out of reach.”
Overcoming these challenges—and accelerating progress towards the SDGs—will require fundamental shifts in policies, institutions, norms, and mindsets.
“The report calls for a reassessment of policy approaches,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua. “Sustaining progress towards the SDGs requires breaking the vicious cycle of insecurity, declining trust, and shrinking political space. Governments and the international community must critically assess how economic and social policies are failing—or even exacerbating—insecurity.” Qatar to host the World Summit for Social Development
The second World Summit for Social Development will be held in the Qatari capital, Doha, from November 4 to 6, 2025.
The report stated that the summit will provide a crucial platform for governments to assess progress and take concrete action to address these critical social challenges.