The economy is the world's most important problem, but not America's

A new global Gallup survey reveals that Americans identify politics as their country's biggest problem, reflecting significant political polarization. Only a few other countries share this top concern, with Taiwan being the only one showing a higher percentage. The survey, conducted across 107 countries, polled about 1,000 individuals aged 15 and older in each nation from March to October 2025. The most common concern globally was the economy, identified by a median of 23% of adults. Younger adults showed a greater inclination to prioritize the economy as a significant issue. American concerns over government have been prevalent for the past decade, according to separate Gallup polls. Democrats and Republicans express different political grievances and anxieties. Highly democratic nations allow their citizens to freely criticize their governments. This is the first time Gallup has surveyed global respondents on this specific issue. The answer to this question has been proven to be politically predictive in determining which party will win the White House.