THE WORLD

100 Global Problems – 1995-2025/2030/2050 (Beta)

This study tracks 100 global problems (1995–2050). In 2025, 91% are worsening (🔺). By 2050, 69% are projected solved (✅), mainly in health, poverty, and education.

Ravi Sand

16 Feb 2026 — 11 min read

Photo by Hunter Scott

Methodology

This analysis compares the state of human problems in 1995 and the progress made by 2025 (when technology has already significantly reduced many challenges), and projects their evolution towards 2030 and 2050. The 100 problems are divided into 10 categories, each category accompanied by the percentage of unresolved problems remaining in 2025. The percentages are estimated based on the sources cited at the end of the document (reports from the World Economic Forum, OECD, WHO, World Bank, ...)

Key to symbols

✅ Problem solved, almost solved, or overcome
🔻 Remaining problem with a downward trend (improvement)
🔺 Remaining problem with an upward trend (worsening)

Results

Problem (in 1995)	2025 (estimate)	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
100	✅ = 9 🔻 = 0 🔺 = 91	✅ = 9 🔻 = 71 🔺 = 20	✅ = 69 🔻 = 25 🔺 = 6

Problem (in 1995)

2025 (estimate)

2030 (projection)

2050 (projection)

100

✅ = 9

🔻 = 0

🔺 = 91

✅ = 9

🔻 = 71

🔺 = 20

✅ = 69

🔻 = 25

🔺 = 6

1. Environment & Climate – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 80%

Environmental risks continue to dominate the long-term horizon. Technology has improved monitoring and response efficiency, but the root causes (emissions, consumption) are not yet under control.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Global Warming	Identified, but little action taken	🔺 Major long-term risk	🔺 Exceeds 1.5°C despite commitments	🔺 2.3‑2.5°C even if plans are implemented
Extreme Weather Events	Occasional, less publicized	🔺 Top immediate risk after conflicts	🔺 Increased frequency and intensity	🔺 Multiplication of disasters
Loss of Biodiversity	Emerging scientific concern	🔺 Ranked among top 10 long-term risks	🔺 Continued erosion	🔺 Collapse of localized ecosystems
Deforestation	High in the tropics	🔺 Slowed but still 10.9 M ha/year	🔻 Slight improvement if policies held	🔻 Possible stabilization below 5 M ha/year
Air Pollution	Major problem in industrial cities	🔺 Recognized as a short-term health risk	🔻 Reduction due to regulations	🔻 Controlled in most regions
Water Pollution	Widespread, poorly regulated	🔺 Persists in developing countries	🔻 Slow improvement	🔻 Solved in advanced countries
Ocean Acidification	Little known	🔺 Growing impact on marine ecosystems	🔺 Continued worsening	🔺 Significant degradation
Water Scarcity	Localized	🔺 Water stress in 40% of regions	🔺 Expansion with demography and climate	🔺 Widespread crisis under 2°C
Soil Degradation	Underestimated	🔺 Reduction of fertile agricultural land	🔺 Continued degradation	🔺 Loss of 10‑20% of productive land
Waste Management	Insufficient, mostly landfilling	✅ Recycling and recovery on the rise (50% in EU)	✅ Widespread circular economy	✅ Solved by recovery technologies

2. Health & Well-being – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 50%

Spectacular progress has been made on infectious and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), but non-communicable diseases and mental health still represent the bulk of the global burden.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
HIV/AIDS	Uncontrolled epidemic	✅ Effective treatments, improved prevention	✅ Near-elimination of transmission	✅ Well-managed chronic disease
Tuberculosis	High mortality in LDCs	🔺 Deaths decreasing but 1.2M deaths in 2024	🔻 Continued reduction with new vaccines	🔻 Controlled in most regions
Malaria	Endemic in the tropics	🔺 Expanded vaccination, 24 countries certified malaria-free	🔻 Elimination in 50% of endemic countries	🔻 Near-eradication
Cardiovascular Diseases	Leading cause of death	🔺 Remain the primary cause of mortality	🔻 Decline due to prevention and personalized treatments	🔻 Mortality reduced by 30‑40%
Cancer	Late diagnosis, limited treatments	🔺 Progress in immunotherapy and screening	🔻 Declining mortality with AI and biomarkers	🔻 Many cancers become chronic or curable
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)	Little attention	✅ 32% fewer people needing treatment since 2010	✅ Progressive elimination	✅ Almost all eradicated
Mental Health	Stigmatized, few services	🔺 Global burden increasing	🔺 Recognition and access improve	🔻 Integrated into primary care
Maternal Mortality	High in poor countries	🔺 Insufficient decline to meet targets	🔻 Reduction with universal care	🔻 Near-zero in most countries
Antibiotic Resistance	Emerging	🔺 Growing threat	🔺 Worsening without innovation	🔻 Controlled by new antibiotic classes
Obesity and Diabetes	Rising in wealthy countries	🔺 Global epidemic	🔺 Continue to rise	🔻 Stabilization through nutrition policies

3. Economy & Work – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 60%

Extreme poverty has receded, but inequality, debt, and insecurity remain major challenges. Technology creates new jobs but demands massive retraining.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Extreme Poverty	Very widespread (≈ 35% of global population)	✅ Reduced to under 10% ($3/day threshold)	✅ Almost eliminated	✅ Solved
Structural Unemployment	High in industrialized countries	🔺 Automation and retraining underway	🔻 Return to balance with new jobs	✅ Full AI-assisted employment
Income Inequality	Rising since the 1980s	🔺 Persistence, even worsening in some countries	🔻 Slight reduction with redistributive tax policies	🔻 Notable reduction
Excessive Public Debt	Problem in developing countries	🔺 Growing burden for many economies	🔺 Possible crises	🔻 Restructuring and relief
Job Insecurity	Expansion of temporary contracts	🔺 Generalization of platform work	🔻 Regulation and adapted social protection	✅ Flexible but secure work
Gender Pay Gap	Significant everywhere	🔺 Slow reduction	🔻 Accelerated reduction through policies	✅ Eliminated
Lack of Digital Skills	Limited to IT professionals	🔺 Persistent digital divide	🔻 Absorbed by universal education	✅ Basic skills generalized
Wealth Concentration	Accentuated by globalization	🔺 Major concern	🔺 Continuity without global tax reform	🔻 Reduction due to policies
Financial Instability	Cyclical crises	🔺 Cyber-attack risks on markets	🔻 Better regulation and resilience	✅ Robust financial systems
Dependence on Raw Materials	Vulnerability of exporting economies	🔺 Energy transition underway	🔻 Increased diversification	✅ Economies decoupled from fossil resources

4. Technology & Innovation – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 70%

Technology has solved many practical problems, but it has also created new risks (cyber, disinformation, ethics) that dominate the 2025 agenda.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Digital Divide	Limited Internet access	🔺 Persistent inequalities in access and usage	🔻 Reduction with universal connectivity	✅ Bridged
Cybersecurity	Marginal concern	🔺 Cyber-espionage and cyberwar as major risks	🔺 Growing threat with IoT and AI	🔻 Controlled by defensive AI
Dependence on Platforms	Birth of web giants	🔺 Concentration of economic and informational power	🔻 Regulation and decentralized alternatives	✅ Pluralistic ecosystem
AI Ethics	Not considered	🔺 Intense debates on bias, transparency, autonomy	🔻 Established international regulatory frameworks	✅ Universal standards adopted
Planned Obsolescence	Common practice	🔺 Still present despite regulations	🔻 Reduction thanks to the circular economy	✅ Durable and repairable products
Mass Surveillance	Limited to authoritarian states	🔺 Generalized via connected devices and social media	🔺 Controversies and citizen resistance	🔻 Balance found between security and privacy
Job Loss Due to Automation	Localized fears	🔺 Profound transformation of the labor market	🔻 Compensation through new professions	✅ Transition completed
Disinformation	Rumors, traditional propaganda	🔺 Top short-term risk	🔻 Control through media education and AI	✅ Disinformation detected and neutralized in real time
Technological Sovereignty	American dominance	🔺 Sino-American competition, strategic dependencies	🔻 Diversification of supply chains	✅ Relative autonomy of regional blocs
E-waste Management	Neglected	🔺 Volume growing rapidly	🔻 Efficient recycling through automation	✅ Closed loop for critical metals

5. Geopolitics & Security – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 75%

Interstate conflicts have again become the most pressing immediate risk, and geopolitical fragmentation complicates the response to global challenges. Technology has not yet provided sufficient solutions to these tensions.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Interstate Armed Conflicts	Cold War, regional conflicts	🔺 Most pressing immediate risk	🔺 Persistent tensions	🔻 Reduction through multipolar diplomacy
International Terrorism	Sporadic attacks	🔺 Diffuse, adaptive threat	🔻 Weakening of jihadist groups	✅ Controlled by intelligence and cooperation
Nuclear Proliferation	Arms race	🔺 Periodic crises (North Korea, Iran)	🔺 Risk of new proliferation	🔻 Stabilization through treaties
Refugee Crisis	Localized (ex-Yugoslavia, Rwanda)	🔺 250M climate-related displacements	🔺 Increase with extreme events	🔻 Adaptation and reception policies
Strategic China-US Competition	Emerging post-Cold War	🔺 Increased global fragmentation	🔺 Pressure on allies and technologies	🔻 Managed competitive coexistence
Regional Instability (Mideast, Africa)	Ethnic, religious conflicts	🔺 Persistence of hotspots	🔻 Gradual pacification	✅ Solved by economic development
Cyberwarfare	Non-existent	🔺 Major short-term risk	🔺 Possible escalation	🔻 Established norms of behavior
Illicit Trafficking (drugs, arms, humans)	Strong in conflict zones	🔺 Illicit economic activities as a risk	🔻 Reduction through police cooperation	✅ Almost eliminated
Nationalism & Protectionism	Rise after 2008 crisis	🔺 Sovereignist retreat, trade fragmentation	🔻 Return to reformed multilateralism	✅ Enhanced cooperation
Insufficient Global Governance	UN limited by Cold War	🔺 Inability to address common crises	🔻 Partial reforms of institutions	✅ Effective governance structure

6. Society & Culture – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 55%

Legislative and educational progress has reduced some discriminations, but polarization and institutional distrust remain major societal risks.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Racial Discrimination	Systemic in many countries	🔺 Persistence of structural inequalities	🔻 Reduction through education and laws	✅ Inclusive society
Gender Inequality	Strong in education, employment, politics	🔺 Pay gap, political under-representation	🔻 Accelerated reduction	✅ Parity achieved
Demographic Aging	Beginning in developed countries	🔺 Pressure on pension and health systems	🔺 Funding crises	🔻 Successful adaptations (robots, home care)
Societal Polarization	Traditional political divides	🔺 Major societal risk	🔻 Mitigation through citizen dialogue	✅ Social cohesion restored
Exclusion of Persons with Disabilities	Little accessibility	✅ Widespread accessibility laws	✅ Full inclusion in public space	✅ Universalist society
Crisis of Trust in Institutions	Decline after scandals	🔺 Erosion aggravated by disinformation	🔻 Slow restoration	✅ Transparent and participatory institutions
Insufficient Literacy	High illiteracy rates in LDCs	✅ Global literacy rate > 90%	✅ Universal basic education	✅ Illiteracy eradicated
Domestic Violence	Taboo, rarely reported	🔺 Still frequent despite campaigns	🔻 Decline thanks to alert systems	✅ Almost eliminated
Excessive Consumption	Dominant Western model	🔺 Pressure on resources, waste	🔻 Transition towards mindful sobriety	✅ Conscious circular economy
Loss of Social Bonds	Beginning of individualism	🔺 Accentuation with digital life	🔻 Return to hybrid communities (physical-virtual)	✅ Balance restored

7. Education & Knowledge – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 65%

Access to education has improved, but quality, relevance to the job market, and the fight against disinformation remain crucial challenges.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Unequal Access to Education	Large North-South gaps	🔺 Persistence in rural areas and conflicts	🔻 Reduction with online platforms	✅ Free and universal education
Insufficient Teaching Quality	Traditional methods	🔺 Disparities between institutions	🔻 Harmonization through pedagogical AI	✅ Personalized high-level teaching
Digital Illiteracy	Non-existent	🔺 Gap between generations and regions	🔻 Absorption through continuous training	✅ Basic digital skills generalized
Underfunding of Research	Limited public budgets	🔺 Cuts in health research funding	🔻 Increase in private investment	✅ Stable and diversified funding
Disinterest in Sciences	Relative decline in rich countries	🔺 Shortage of scientific vocations	🔻 Revival thanks to climate and health challenges	✅ Scientific culture disseminated
Spread of False Knowledge	Rumors, conspiracy theories	🔺 Disinformation as top risk	🔻 Control through media education	✅ Society immune to fake news
Language Barriers	Obstacle to global communication	🔺 Persistence despite auto-translators	🔻 Reduction with real-time AI translation	✅ Second languages mastered by all
Skills-Job Mismatch	Growing gap	🔺 Youth unemployment despite degrees	🔻 Continuous adaptation of curricula	✅ Effective lifelong learning
Centralization of Knowledge	Controlled by few universities	🔺 Paywalled access to scientific publications	🔻 Generalized open science	✅ Freely accessible knowledge
School Dropout	High in disadvantaged areas	🔺 Persists despite catch-up policies	🔻 Reduction through personalized mentoring	✅ Dropout rate near zero

8. Infrastructure & Urbanization – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 60%

Basic infrastructure (water, sanitation) has improved, but congestion, precarious housing, and resilience to climate shocks remain major challenges, especially in fast-growing cities.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Congested Transport	Major problem in megacities	🔺 Persistence despite public transit	🔻 Improvement with shared autonomous vehicles	✅ Total fluidity
Substandard Housing	Rife in slums	🔺 Still 1 billion people in precarious housing	🔻 Reduction with low-cost construction	✅ Decent housing for all
Access to Clean Water	Limited in rural areas	✅ 90% of global population has access	✅ Universal coverage	✅ Solved
Failing Sanitation	Cause of waterborne diseases	🔺 Still 2 billion without improved sanitation	🔻 Generalization of low-tech systems	✅ Universal sanitation
Aging Energy Grids	Frequent outages in LDCs	🔺 Modernization underway but slow	🔻 Smart grids deployed at scale	✅ Resilient, decarbonized grids
Weak Internet Connectivity	Limited to developed countries	🔺 Persistent digital divide	🔻 Universal broadband	✅ Omnipresent connectivity
Vulnerability to Disasters	Few emergency plans	🔺 Strengthening of early warning systems	🔻 Climate-adapted infrastructure	✅ Resilient cities
Urban Sprawl	Consumption of natural spaces	🔺 Continues despite densification policies	🔻 Controlled through planning	✅ Compact, green cities
Noise Pollution	Growing nuisance in cities	🔺 Poorly regulated	🔻 Reduction with silent vehicles and insulation	✅ Acceptable levels everywhere
Lack of Green Spaces	Deficit in poor neighborhoods	🔺 Unequal access to natural recreation	🔻 Generalization of green belts	✅ Generalized garden-city

9. Energy & Resources – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 70%

The energy transition is underway, but dependence on fossils, shortages of critical metals, and renewable intermittency remain major obstacles. The digital carbon footprint could triple by 2050 if unaddressed.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Dependence on Fossil Fuels	Almost total	🔺 Transition underway but still dominant	🔻 Share of renewables > 50%	✅ 100% decarbonized energy
Shortages of Critical Minerals	Little anticipated	🔺 Tensions over lithium, cobalt, rare earths	🔺 Peak demand for the transition	🔻 Effective recycling and substitution
Low Energy Efficiency	Significant waste	✅ Continuous improvement (vehicles, buildings)	✅ Optimization by AI	✅ Yields near theoretical maximum
Access to Electricity	Limited in rural areas	✅ 95% of global population connected	✅ Universal coverage	✅ Solved
Nuclear Waste Management	Unresolved problem	🔺 Geological storage under discussion	🔻 Proven technical solutions	✅ Safe and definitive management
Conflicts over Water	Localized	🔺 Water stress aggravated by climate	🔺 Increased tensions	🔻 Cooperative transboundary management
Deforestation for Energy	Fuelwood in LDCs	🔺 Reduced but persistent	🔻 Substitution by other sources	✅ Completely halted
Intermittency of Renewables	Emerging technical problem	🔺 Storage still costly	🔻 Massive storage solutions	✅ Stable 100% renewable grids
Unaffordable Energy	Heavy bills for the poor	🔺 Persistent access inequalities	🔻 Social tariffs and decentralized production	✅ Free or very cheap energy
Digital Carbon Footprint	Negligible	🔺 Could triple by 2050	🔻 Stabilization through efficiency	✅ Carbon-neutral digital sector

10. Governance & Ethics – Remaining to be solved in 2025: ≈ 75%

Corruption, democratic deficit, and the mismatch of regulations with fast-moving technologies are persistent risks. Global coordination remains insufficient to face common crises.

Problem	In 1995	2025	2030 (projection)	2050 (projection)
Corruption	Endemic in many countries	🔺 Persists despite laws	🔻 Reduction through digital transparency	✅ Almost eliminated
Democratic Deficit	Low participation, distrust	🔺 Polarization and rise of populism	🔻 Participatory democratic renewal	✅ Inclusive deliberative democracy
Human Rights Violations	Mass violations in dictatorships	🔺 Still present in several states	🔻 Effective international pressure	✅ Universal respect
Regulation Lagging Behind Tech	Laws unfit for the Internet	🔺 Growing gap with AI, biotech	🔻 Agile regulatory frameworks	✅ Anticipatory regulation
Slow & Unequal Justice	Court backlogs	🔺 Inequalities in access to justice	🔻 Predictive and online justice	✅ Fast and equitable justice
Algorithmic Opacity	Not a concern	🔺 Major ethical issue	🔻 Mandatory explainability	✅ Transparent and audited algorithms
Concentration of Media Power	A few large groups	🔺 Amplified by platforms	🔻 Diversification through independent media	✅ Pluralistic media landscape
Transnational Organized Crime	Strong in conflict zones	🔺 Illicit economic activities as a risk	🔻 Weakening through police cooperation	✅ Complete dismantling
Lack of Corporate Accountability	Externalization of social/environmental costs	🔺 Growing pressure from NGOs and investors	🔻 Integrated and controlled CSR	✅ Mission-driven companies
Global Crisis Management	Weak coordination	🔺 Inability to respond to pandemics, climate	🔻 Rapid response mechanisms	✅ Effective global governance

Overall Summary

Category	% of Problems remaining unsolved in 2025	General Commentary
Environment & Climate	≈ 80%	Environmental risks dominate the long-term horizon; technology aids monitoring and mitigation, but systemic causes are not yet mastered.
Health & Well-being	≈ 50%	Huge progress on infectious diseases and NTDs, but non-communicable diseases and mental health still represent the bulk of the global burden.
Economy & Work	≈ 60%	Extreme poverty has receded, but inequality, debt, and insecurity remain major challenges.
Technology & Innovation	≈ 70%	Technology has solved many practical problems but has also created new risks (cyber, disinformation, ethics) that dominate the agenda.
Geopolitics & Security	≈ 75%	Interstate conflicts have again become the most pressing immediate risk; geopolitical fragmentation complicates the response to global challenges.
Society & Culture	≈ 55%	Legislative and educational progress has reduced some discriminations, but polarization and institutional distrust remain major societal risks.
Education & Knowledge	≈ 65%	Access to education has improved, but quality, relevance to the job market, and the fight against disinformation remain crucial.
Infrastructure & Urbanization	≈ 60%	Basic infrastructure has improved, but congestion, precarious housing, and resilience to climate shocks remain major challenges.
Energy & Resources	≈ 70%	The energy transition is underway, but dependence on fossils, critical metal shortages, and renewable intermittency are major obstacles.
Governance & Ethics	≈ 75%	Corruption, democratic deficit, and mismatched regulations persist; global coordination remains insufficient for common crises.

Projections for 2030 and 2050

2030: Technology will continue to solve practical problems (education, health, infrastructure), but environmental, geopolitical, and ethical risks will worsen if no collective action is taken.
2050: Assuming accelerated innovation and strengthened global cooperation, most material problems could be solved. However, challenges related to climate, biodiversity, and social equity will require sustained efforts to avoid breakdown scenarios.

Comments

Categories with a positive evolution (problems mostly solved):
- Note: In this specific study, no category falls below a 50% "remaining problems" threshold. The most significant progress has been made in Health & Well-being (≈50% remaining), largely due to the conquest of many infectious diseases.
Categories in transition, with persistent or transformed challenges (15-65% remaining):
- Society & Culture (≈55%), Economy & Work (≈60%), Infrastructure & Urbanization (≈60%), Education & Knowledge (≈65%).Technology has optimized systems and improved access in these areas. However, it has not resolved—and sometimes exacerbates—underlying structural issues like polarization, inequality, skills mismatches, and resilience gaps. Solutions require systemic socio-economic reforms alongside technology.
Categories where challenges remain major, or have even worsened (≈70%+ remaining):
- Technology & Innovation (≈70%), Energy & Resources (≈70%), Environment & Climate (≈80%), Geopolitics & Security (≈75%), Governance & Ethics (≈75%).This cluster reveals technology's double-edged sword. It creates powerful new tools (e.g., for monitoring, green energy) but also generates novel, severe risks (cyber threats, e-waste, disinformation). The greatest failure is in managing collective action problems: geopolitical fragmentation and governance lags prevent the deployment of solutions at the scale needed, particularly for climate and security crises.

Perspectives

The analysis confirms that technology is highly effective at solving discrete, material constraints. Its primary limitation lies in addressing complex, systemic challenges that require behavioral change, global cooperation, and ethical governance. The future trajectory suggests that without a profound shift towards integrated, multidisciplinary, and politically coherent approaches, technological advancement may continue to outpace our ability to manage its consequences and solve our most existential shared problems.