January 2023 Global Risks Report 2023 Contents 4 Preface 5 Overview of Methodology 6 Executive Summary 13 Chapter 1: Global Risks 2023: Today’s Crisis 13 1.1 Current crises 14 1.2 The path to 2025 15 Cost-of-living crisis 17 Economic downturn 19 Economic warfare 21 Climate action hiatus 23 Societal polarization 25 1.3 Looking ahead 26 Endnotes 29 Chapter 2: Global Risks 2033: Tomorrow’s Catastrophes 29 2.1 The world in 2033 31 2.2 Natural ecosystems: past the point of no return 35 2.3 Human health: perma-pandemics and chronic capacity challenges 38 2.4 Human security: new weapons, new con昀氀icts 42 2.5 Digital rights: privacy in peril 46 2.6 Economic stability: global debt distress 50 Endnotes 57 Chapter 3: Resource Rivalries: Four Emerging Futures 57 3.1 Anticipating “polycrises” 57 3.2 Polycrisis: natural resources, climate and cooperation 60 3.3 Four futures for 2030 67 Endnotes 69 Chapter 4: Conclusion: is preparedness possible? 73 Endnotes 74 Appendix A – Technical Notes: Global Risks Perception Survey 2022-2023 79 Appendix B – Executive Opinion Survey: National Risk Perceptions 96 Acknowledgements © 2023 World Economic Forum. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system. Global Risks Report 2023 3