State of our world 2025

Nine infographics and essays that make sense of a fast-changing economic and geopolitical order

The global economy and international order are undergoing the greatest upheaval in decades. Geopolitical headwinds from wars to tariffs are at their strongest in half a century, and a diffusion of economic power among more-evenly matched blocs has created a multipolar world marked by growing competition between nations.

At the same time, the workforce in many countries is shrinking as birth rates plummet and the senior population explodes. And then there's artificial intelligence, the hope of many businesses and nations for breaking our productivity plateau and driving new business and economic growth.

The Oliver Wyman Forum created the State Of Our World 2025 report to help guide leaders through these turbulent times. In a world of information overload, this collection of infographics and essays identifies some of the most important trends impacting business today. We wanted to create the lightest heavy read possible for business leaders making strategic choices in the next 12 to 24 months.

We focused in particular on interconnected risks and topics, such as the way that supply chain rewiring needs to take into account resource scarcity and climate adaptation, and how rapidly slowing demographic trends demand new economic growth models for companies and countries, and new approaches to migration pressures.

Together, these multidecade trends are quickly creating opportunities for business leaders, policymakers, and regulators to redefine the world as we know it. By understanding these dynamics and putting them in proper context, leaders can better anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and position their organizations for success.

 

State Of Our World