Global Citizens Speak: The 2026 FII PRIORITY Compass Unveils the World’s True Priorities

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, in partnership with Ipsos, has released the 5th edition of the FII PRIORITY Compass report, a landmark global study capturing the hopes, fears, and demands of more than 60,000 people across 32 countries, representing two-thirds of humanity.

This year’s edition finds a world where personal optimism holds steady while confidence in countries and in the direction of the world slips, where the cost of living has become an even louder concern, and where enthusiasm for AI is matched by a near-universal demand for human oversight. It also exposes a persistent divide between an optimistic Global South and a pessimistic Global North.

These insights set the stage where global leaders, investors, and innovators gather to tackle the issues that matter most to citizens everywhere. Explore the findings shaping the global agenda and the future.

“Citizens want their leaders to address cost-of-living pressures, invest in longevity, and ensure that AI serves humanity, not the other way around.”

HRH Dr. Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Chief Executive Officer, FII Institute

What the data tells us

• Optimism stalls. Only 34% think the world is heading in the right direction, down three points, and 46% say the same of their country. Yet 75% believe their own lives are on track.
• Cost of living remains the number one priority, cited by 56% of global citizens, up six points on 2025. Energy costs are now the second most common cost-of-living concern, at 34%.
• Health and financial security define well-being. Staying physically healthy and getting care when needed (44%) and having a secure job or income (43%) top the list of personal priorities.
• Faith in social mobility is rising. 69% believe that someone who works hard can move up in society, six points higher than last year.
• Demand for AI comes with demands on AI. 57% would pay for classes to build their AI skills, yet 80% reject AI making final decisions in hiring, justice or healthcare, and 85% want a global framework to regulate it.
• Robots are expected, but not for everything. 65% expect robots to be a normal part of daily life within ten years and 61% are comfortable with them doing household chores. Far fewer accept them in elderly care.
• Healthcare dissatisfaction runs deep. Fewer than half are satisfied with the care available to them, and 63% say making healthcare affordable for everyone is worth higher taxes.
• Education and work need rethinking. 65% say university is no longer worth the cost, 69% want governments to prioritise vocational training because of AI, and low pay is the top reason to leave a job.

About the research

The FII PRIORITY Global Survey was conducted in partnership with Ipsos between 24 April and 5 June 2026, covering 61,200 respondents in 32 countries chosen to represent the geographic and socio-economic diversity of the world. Interviews were carried out online with adults aged 18 and over, with quotas set on gender, age, occupation, region and urban or rural residence.

Results are presented as a Global Average and for two groups of countries: the Global North (28,300 interviews in 13 countries) and the Global South (32,900 interviews in 19 countries). Together the 32 countries account for 66% of the world’s population. In countries with lower internet penetration the samples represent the more urban, educated and affluent population; the full methodology and country list are set out in the report.

The accompanying FII PRIORITY Compass Navigator lets you explore the same dataset by country, demographic and theme.