Cost of living remains top global concern for fifth year: FII survey

The fifth edition of the FII PRIORITY Compass survey has found that the cost of living remains the leading concern for people worldwide for the fifth consecutive year, cited by 56% of respondents at the local level. Poverty and inequality followed at 38%, with unemployment at 36%.

The survey, conducted in partnership with polling firm Ipsos, gathered the views of 61,200 adults across 32 countries between April 24 and June 5, 2026, covering nations representing 66% of the global population.

According to the findings, 57% of participants said that living expenses and debt are barriers to having their desired number of children. The survey also highlighted a divide in outlook between the Global South and North: 47% of respondents in the South believe the world is heading in the right direction, compared to just 15% in the North.

On artificial intelligence, 60% reported improvements in their lives due to AI, while 85% called for global regulation of its use. Some 61% were comfortable with robots handling household chores, but this dropped to 53% when it came to caring for the elderly.

Regarding digital child protection, 51% supported requiring verified parental consent for those under 16 to use social media platforms, while 40% backed banning children's accounts altogether.

On media and trust, the results showed that most participants trust traditional media for accurate information, despite 75% believing it is politically biased.

Princess Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz, CEO of the Future Investment Initiative Foundation, said the index reveals shared concerns and unmet needs, stressing the importance of using the results to guide policies and investments that improve people's lives.