In a world where anxiety seems to be the only universal currency, health and social security have emerged as the top concerns for people across the globe, according to a recent Statista chart based on data from the Ipsos Global Advisor survey conducted in late 2024. The findings, published in April 2025, reveal a stark geographic divide in where these issues keep people up at night, with Latin America and parts of Europe leading the pack, while the U.S. and Asia lag behind. It’s a snapshot of a planet grappling with aging populations, creaky healthcare systems, and the ever-looming specter of economic insecurity.

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Topping the list is Peru, where a staggering 55% of respondents flagged health and social security as their primary worry. Close behind are Brazil (52%) and Mexico (47%), proving that Latin America is a hotbed of concern about access to healthcare and financial safety nets. Hungary (46%) and Poland (42%) round out the top five, signaling that Eastern Europe isn’t exactly brimming with confidence in its social systems either. Meanwhile, the U.S. sits at a relatively modest 28%, tied with South Korea, while Japan (18%) and Saudi Arabia (17%) seem almost nonchalant by comparison.

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What’s driving this? In Latin America, it’s no secret that public healthcare systems are often underfunded and overstretched, with countries like Peru and Brazil facing challenges like hospital overcrowding and unequal access to care. Social security systems, where they exist, are frequently patchwork, leaving many to fend for themselves in old age or illness. Europe’s high scorers, Hungary and Poland, reflect a different kind of unease—aging populations and pension systems under strain, coupled with lingering distrust in post-communist welfare frameworks. The Statista chart doesn’t delve into causes, but the numbers scream context: where systems feel fragile, worry festers.

Contrast this with the U.S., where only 28% rank health and social security as their top issue. This isn’t because Americans are basking in a utopia of affordable healthcare and robust pensions—far from it. The lower figure likely reflects a cultural shrug toward systemic flaws, with many resigned to navigating a privatized healthcare maze or banking on personal savings. In Japan and Saudi Arabia, lower concern could stem from stronger social safety nets or, in the latter’s case, a younger population and oil-fueled subsidies dulling the urgency.

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The Ipsos survey, conducted across 32 countries, underscores a broader truth: health and social security aren’t just policy issues; they’re visceral fears tied to survival. When nearly half of Peruvians or Brazilians cite these as their top concern, it’s not abstract—it’s about whether they’ll get a hospital bed or afford to retire. Even in wealthier nations, the specter of a medical bill or a collapsing pension looms large. The global average hovers around 30%, but the variance—from Peru’s 55% to Saudi Arabia’s 17%—shows how deeply local realities shape global anxieties.

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As populations age and healthcare costs soar, these numbers are a warning shot. Governments ignoring these concerns risk more than bad polls—they’re playing roulette with social stability. For now, Latin America and Eastern Europe are sounding the loudest alarms, but no country’s immune. If Statista’s chart is any guide, the world’s got a lot of sleepless nights ahead.