respondents were asked to assess the likelihood of the individual global risk on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 representing a risk that is very unlikely and 5 a risk that is very likely to occur over the course of the next ten years. They also assessed the impact of each global risk on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 representing a minimal impact and 5 a catastrophic impact. To ensure legibility,the names of the global risks are abbreviated. How do respondents perceive the impact and likelihood of global risks? Top Risks by impact Infectious diseases Climate action failure Weapons of mass destruction Biodiversity loss Natural resource crises Human environmental damage Livelihood crises Extreme weather Debt crises IT infrastructure breakdown Source: World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2020 Top Risks by likelihood 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Source: World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2020 Extreme weather Climate action failure Human environmental damage Infectious diseases Biodiversity loss Digital power concentration Digital inequality Interstate relations fracture Cybersecurity failure Livelihood crises FIGURE II Global Risks Landscape Source: World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2020 The Global Risks Report 2021 13 FIGURE III Global Risks Network Visit https://www.weforum.org/global-risks to explore the Global Risks Network interactive graphic What drives global risks? Respondents rank the most concerning risks globally and their drivers. 8th 6th 4th 2nd 1st 3rd 5th 7th 9th Extreme Weather Debt Crises Social Cohesion Erosion Infectious Diseases Climate Action Failure Livelihood Crises Biodiversity Loss Prolonged Stagnation Human Environmental Damage Survey respondents were asked to rank order the three risks they consider to be the most concerning for the world. Respondents were then asked to select up to five risks they consider will be driving their top concerns over the course of the next 10 years, with no particular ordering. See Appendix B for more details. To ensure legibility, the names of the global risks are abbreviated; see Appendix A for full names and descriptions. Read more about the methodology: http://reports.weforum.org/global-risks-report-2021/methodology Outer Arc = Drivers Inner Arc = Risks Economic IT Infrastructure Breakdown Digital Power Concentration Involuntary Migration Interstate Conflict Adverse Tech Advances Social Cohesion Erosion Digital Inequality Infectious Diseases Debt Crises Asset Bubble Burst Youth Disillusionment Prolonged Stagnation Social Security Collapse Livelihood Crises Extreme Weather Multilateralism Collapse Climate Action Failure Biodiversity Loss Resource Geopolitilization Interstate Relations Fracture Human Environmental Damage Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technology Line Thickness = Strength of Causality - + 8th 6th 4th 2nd 1st 3rd 5th 7th 9th The Global Risks Report 2021 14 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Top Global Risks by Likelihood Top Global Risks by Impact Economic Environmental Geopolitical Societal Technological FIGURE IV Evolving Risks Landscape Income disparity Greenhouse gas emissions Water crises Population ageing Income disparity Unemployment Climate action failure Extreme Cyberattacks weather Interstate conflict Failure of national governance State collapse or crisis Extreme Unemployment weather Extreme weather Natural disasters Terrorist attacks Data fraud or theft Involuntary migration Income disparity Fiscal imbalances Greenhouse gas Cyberattacks Water crises emissions Involuntary migration Interstate conflict Natural catastrophes Extreme weather Climate action failure Extreme weather Cyberattacks Data fraud or theft Natural disasters Climate action failure Extreme weather Natural disasters Data fraud or theft Climate action Cyberattacks failure 2013 2014 2015 2017 2012 2016 2018 2019 2020 Extreme weather Natural disasters Biodiversity loss Human-made environmental disasters Climate action failure 2021 Extreme weather Human environmental damage Climate action Infectious diseases failure Biodiversity loss Digital power concentration Digital inequality 2021 Infectious diseases Weapons of mass destruction Climate action Biodiversity loss failure Natural resource crises Human Livelihood crises environmental damage Fiscal imbalances 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 2013 2014 2015 2017 2012 2016 2018 2019 2020 Climate action failure Extreme weather Water crises Natural disasters Weapons of mass destruction Financial failure Water crises Food crises Energy price volatility Fiscal imbalances Weapons of mass destruction Extreme weather Natural Water crises disasters Climate action failure Weapons of mass destruction Extreme weather Water crises Natural disasters Climate action failure Energy price shock Water crises Involuntary migration Weapons of mass destruction Climate action failure Fiscal crises Infrastructure breakdown Climate action Water crises Unemployment failure Water crises Infectious diseases Weapons of mass destruction Interstate conflict Climate action failure Financial failure Water crises Weapons of mass destruction Fiscal imbalances Climate action failure Extreme weather Weapons of Water crises mass destruction Climate action Biodiversity loss failure Source: World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey