The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, in partnership with Ipsos, unveiled the results of the 2025 FII PRIORITY Compass, a landmark global survey capturing the priorities, hopes, and anxieties of citizens across the world, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.
The findings reveal that the cost of living has become the undisputed number one concern for citizens worldwide, cited by 50% of respondents, a dramatic 10-point rise in just twelve months. The data shows a world gripped by financial insecurity, social unease, and growing demands for technological sovereignty as artificial intelligence reshapes economies and societies.
The FII PRIORITY Compass surveyed more than 60,000 people across 32 countries, representing 66% of the global population. The study provides a data-driven window into how people feel about their personal lives, their countries, and the world. It also helps shape the agenda of the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) conference, underway in Riyadh.
The survey reveals universal anxiety about living costs, with inflation, job security, and access to affordable goods dominating concerns in every region:
50% of respondents name cost of living as their top concern, up ten points year-on-year. Unemployment and poverty came joint second, followed by crime, education, and healthcare. 61% of people globally fear they will not have enough money to live decently when they retire.
As governments and industries grapple with the AI revolution, the survey highlights a strong global call for AI sovereignty, the ability for nations to build and control their own artificial intelligence systems. 77% of global citizens believe their country should develop its own AI capabilities, rather than depend on foreign systems.
This year’s results align closely with FII9’s focus on AI infrastructure, technology sovereignty, and the future of compute, reflecting the intersection between global citizen sentiment and policymaker priorities.
Health and well-being continue to rank among the world’s top priorities, with 73% of respondents saying advancing longevity, living longer, healthier lives, is a global priority. Mental health and access to affordable medical care remain major personal concerns, particularly among younger and lower-income groups.
The data highlights a world divided between optimism in the Global South and pessimism in the Global North. Citizens in developing economies express confidence in technology’s ability to improve lives, while those in advanced economies worry about inequality, governance, and trust in institutions.
Yet despite these divides, the majority of people, 76%, believe their personal lives are heading in the right direction, suggesting a fragile but growing sense of optimism if global leaders respond to the issues that matter most
Chairman of the Executive Committee and Acting CEO of the FII Institute Richard Attias said: "The data from this year’s PRIORITY Compass offers a clear signal to world leaders: citizens are crying out for economic, digital, and human security. They want leaders to address cost-of-living pressures, invest in longevity, and ensure that AI serves humanity, not the other way around. These findings will help guide the conversations at FII9, where ideas meet capital to tackle real-world problems."
The release of the 2025 PRIORITY Compass coincides with the opening of FII9, where over 9,000 global leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators are gathering in Riyadh to discuss how to unlock prosperity for all in a rapidly changing world.
