World Social Report 2025 – A Global Call for Equity and Security

The World Social Report 2025, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with UNU-WIDER, is the UN’s flagship publication analyzing critical global social development trends. This edition emphasizes the growing disparities in income, employment, and institutional trust, proposing strategies to realign global efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Why in the News?

The United Nations recently released the World Social Report 2025, highlighting rising global economic insecurity, inequality, and declining trust in institutions. The report urges urgent policy reforms to rebuild social contracts, improve livelihoods, and restore trust and solidarity worldwide.

Core Issues Highlighted

  • 60% of the world faces economic insecurity.
  • 690+ million people still live in extreme poverty.
  • Income inequality is rising in 2/3rd of all countries.
  • The richest 1% own more wealth than 95% of the global population.

Employment and Livelihood Crisis

  • Informal and insecure jobs dominate in Africa and South Asia.
  • Employment precarity leads to unstable incomes and weak social protection.

Declining Trust in Institutions

  • More than half of the global population reports low or no trust in their governments.
  • This is aggravated by misinformation, digital echo chambers, and governance failures.

Impact of Climate and Conflict

  • In 2024, 1 in 5 people experienced climate disasters.
  • 1 in 7 lived in areas affected by conflict, reversing development gains.

Achievements Noted

  • 1 billion+ people lifted out of extreme poverty since 1995 (SDG 1).
  • Improvements in life expectancy, literacy, and access to healthcare (SDGs 3, 4).
  • Advances in social inclusion across ethnicity, residence, and income (SDG 10).

Challenges Highlighted

  • Persisting Inequality: Failure to distribute growth equitably.
  • Job Insecurity: Weak employment and vulnerable working conditions.
  • Digital Misinformation: Trust erosion due to fake news and online polarisation.
  • Development Reversal: Climate change and wars pushing millions into poverty.

Way Forward: UN Recommendations

  • Rebuild Social Contracts: Investment in education, health, decent work.
  • Fair Taxation: Implement progressive and redistributive taxation.
  • Strengthen Governance: Make institutions inclusive, transparent, and accountable.
  • Global Coordination: Use platforms like the upcoming World Summit for Social Development 2025 to drive unified action.

Shivam

Recent Posts

Which is the Most Colourful Lake in the World?

Most lakes in the world are blue or green, which looks calm and peaceful. But…

11 hours ago

Heinrich Klaasen Announces Retirement from International Cricket

South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a notable…

12 hours ago

Glenn Maxwell Bids Farewell to ODI Cricket After 13-Year Career

Australian cricketing icon Glenn Maxwell has announced his retirement from One Day International (ODI) cricket,…

12 hours ago

Top-10 Strange Fruits in the World, Know About Them

Fruits come in many shapes, sizes and colors. While we all know common fruits like…

13 hours ago

Global Day of Parents 2025: Honoring the Pillars of Human Development

Every year on June 1, the world observes Global Day of Parents, a United Nations-designated…

13 hours ago

New Book Revisits Indira Gandhi Era Ahead of Emergency’s 50th Anniversary

As the 50th anniversary of the Emergency approaches, a new book by TCA Srinivasa Raghavan…

13 hours ago