FII PRIORITY Compass: Cost of living tops global concerns for 5th straight year as financial strains derail family aspirations

RIYADH — The findings of the fifth edition of the FII PRIORITY Compass underscore the mounting cost-of-living crisis as the foremost concern worldwide, followed by poverty, inequality, and unemployment. The results highlight the deepening grip of financial pressures on everyday decisions, household priorities, and families’ aspirations for the future. The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, a global nonprofit foundation with an investment arm and one agenda, Impact on Humanity, published the findings on Wednesday. The FII PRIORITY Compass captured the views of 61,200 adults across 32 countries, highlighting economic pressures, expectations of technology, and shifting public trust. CEO of FII Institute Princess Dr. Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz said: “The FII PRIORITY Compass reveals shared concerns and unmet needs, with cost-of-living topping global priorities for five years. It should be a go-to resource for investors and decision-makers, guiding policies and capital toward opportunities that generate returns and improve lives.” The compass also reveals a significant gap in outlook between the Global South and the Global North. While 47 percent of respondents in the Global South believe the world is heading in the right direction, only 15 percent in the Global North share that view. On artificial intelligence, the responses reflect a growing recognition of its benefits alongside widespread calls for regulation. While 60 percent said AI has improved their lives, 85 percent call for global rules to regulate its use. This variation also extends to the acceptance of robots in the home, with 61 percent of respondents expressing comfort with robots performing household tasks, compared with 53 percent when it comes to caring for the elderly.Regarding children's safety in the digital environment, 51 percent support requiring verified parental consent for children under the age of 16 to use social media platforms, while 40 percent support banning children's accounts. The survey also highlights the relationship between financial pressures and family decisions, with 57 percent of respondents reporting that living expenses and debt represent barriers to having the number of children they desire.On media and public trust, findings show that a majority of respondents trust traditional media as sources of accurate information, despite 75 percentperceiving them as politically biased. Conducted in partnership with Ipsos between April 24 and June 5, 2026, the online survey gathered views from 61,200 adults aged 18 and over in 32 countries, collectively representing 66 percent of the global population.