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.
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