- 44 threatsWorsening
- 19 threatsMixed signals
- 11 threatsImproving, fragile
All briefings
74 published · 11 categories · updated Oct 10, 2026Showing 12 of 74 briefings
HealthMixed signals
HIV/AIDS
41.0 million people lived with HIV in 2025. Treatment has cut deaths by 57% since 2010, but international HIV funding fell 18% and infections rose in 21 countries.
- people living with HIV worldwide, 2025
- 41.0 million
Read briefingHealthMixed signals
Zero-dose children
An estimated 13.5 million infants received no vaccine in 2025, and 57 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks as measles coverage stalled.
- zero-dose children: no vaccine in the first year of life, 2025
- 13.5 million
Read briefingHealthWorsening
Obesity
WHO counts 1.1 billion people with obesity in 2024, including 940 million adults and 170 million children and adolescents aged 5–19.
- people living with obesity, 2024 (1 in 7)
- 1.1 billion
Read briefingHealthWorsening
Dementia
In 2021, 57 million people lived with dementia worldwide, with nearly 10 million new cases a year and a global cost of US$1.3 trillion in 2019.
- people living with dementia worldwide, 2021
- 57 million
Read briefingSocietyWorsening
Modern slavery
The ILO, Walk Free and IOM estimate 50 million people were in modern slavery in 2021, 10 million more than in 2016. Forced labour earns US$236 billion a year in illegal profit.
- people living in modern slavery, 2021
- 50 million
Read briefingSocietyImproving, fragile
Child marriage
UNICEF estimated in 2023 that 640 million girls and women alive today were married as children, about 12 million girls a year. The pace would need to be 20 times faster to end it by 2030.
- girls and women alive today married in childhood (UNICEF, 2023 estimate)
- 640 million
Read briefingSocietyWorsening
Out-of-school children
UNESCO counts 273 million children, adolescents and youth out of school in 2024, the seventh yearly rise. Three quarters are in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia.
- children, adolescents and youth out of school, 2024
- 273 million
Read briefingSecurityWorsening
Democratic backsliding
Freedom House found global freedom fell for a 20th straight year in 2025, with 54 countries declining and 35 improving. V-Dem says 41% of humanity lives in autocratizing countries.
- consecutive year of net decline in global freedom, 2025 (54 countries declined, 35 improved)
- 20th year
Read briefingHealthImproving, fragile
Neglected tropical diseases
Around 1.4 billion people needed interventions against neglected tropical diseases in 2024, 36% fewer than in 2010. Aid for these diseases fell 41% between 2018 and 2023.
- people requiring interventions against NTDs in 2024, 36% fewer than 2010
- 1.4 billion
Read briefingHealthMixed signals
Loneliness
WHO's Commission on Social Connection found that 1 in 6 people worldwide experience loneliness, linked to about 871,000 deaths a year, around 100 an hour.
- people worldwide experience loneliness, WHO Commission 2025
- 1 in 6
Read briefingPollutionMixed signals
Lead poisoning
WHO attributes more than 3.5 million deaths in 2023 to lead exposure and says up to 815 million children are affected. Pure Earth puts the number above one billion.
- deaths attributed to lead exposure worldwide, 2023
- 3.5 million
Read briefingWaterMixed signals
Arsenic in drinking water
WHO estimates 140 million people in at least 70 countries drink water with arsenic above the 10 µg/L guideline. A global model puts those at risk at 94–220 million.
- people in at least 70 countries drinking water above 10 µg/L arsenic (WHO, 2022)
- 140 million
Read briefing