The global risk landscape is becoming more volatile and interconnected, with geoeconomic confrontation ranked as the world’s most significant threat in 2026, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026.

The report warns that rising trade tensions, sanctions, tariffs, and strategic economic rivalry among major powers are weakening multilateral cooperation and fragmenting global markets, increasing uncertainty for investment, trade, and long-term growth.

Closely linked is the risk of state-based armed conflict, as geopolitical rivalries increasingly spill into military confrontations, proxy wars, and regional instability, disrupting global supply chains, energy markets, and capital flows.

Extreme weather events remain a dominant risk, reflecting the mounting economic costs of climate change through infrastructure damage, food insecurity, supply chain disruption, and escalating insurance losses.

The Forum also highlights societal polarization as a growing threat, warning that deepening political, social, and ideological divisions are undermining consensus-building, policy effectiveness, and institutional stability across many countries.

Another major concern is the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which the report describes as a force capable of distorting public discourse, weakening trust in institutions, and amplifying political and market volatility.

An economic downturn continues to loom large, driven by high debt levels, tight financial conditions, and persistent geopolitical uncertainty, raising the risk of slower growth and financial stress across economies.

The report further flags the erosion of human rights and civic freedoms, noting that declining rule of law and shrinking civic space can fuel instability, deter investment, and weaken long-term economic resilience.

Rapid technological change also features prominently, with adverse outcomes of artificial intelligence technologies posing risks related to labour displacement, ethical failures, governance gaps, and systemic misuse.

Cyber insecurity remains a critical concern as digital systems become more integral to economic and national security, exposing governments and businesses to escalating cyber threats.

Rounding out the top ten is inequality, which the Forum warns could deepen social tensions, constrain growth, and amplify the impact of other global risks if left unaddressed.

The World Economic Forum concludes that these risks are increasingly compounding rather than isolated, underscoring the urgent need for cooperation, resilience, and forward-looking governance in a more fragmented world.