UN 2026 Global Risk Report: Large-Scale War Now the World's Most Urgent Threat

The report from the United Nations' second Global Risk Report, which drew on the input of more than 1,300 people in government, the private sector, civil society, and the UN system, shows that the world is bracing for conflict. Large-scale war has jumped 16 places in terms of how soon people expect it to strike, the biggest jump recorded by the survey in any area. More than a third of respondents believe a large-scale war could erupt within a year, and three of every four expect one within seven years. War also ranks among the most interconnected risks, meaning that it both drives and is driven by other crises, including a range of geopolitical tensions and mounting inequality. Two years ago, environmental challenges dominated the agenda. Now, war and political instability are at the forefront of the risk discussion.