State Of Our World (original) (raw)

As the second quarter of the 21st century begins, the global economy and international order are undergoing so much transformation that some have stamped this era the Great Upheaval. Geopolitical headwinds, from wars to tariffs, are at their strongest in half a century, and nations have moved from a multilateral to a multipolar world order looking for more opportunities to redraw the future. At the same time, the workforce is shrinking as birth rates plummet and the senior population explodes. And then there's artificial intelligence, the hope of many businesses and nations for breaking our productivity plateau and driving new business and economic growth.

The Oliver Wyman Forum created the State Of Our World 2025 report as a discussion starter to help guide leaders through these turbulent and exhilarating times. In a world of information overload, this collection of infographics and stories seeks to call out signal from the noise on some of the most important global trends impacting business today. Some topics, like geopolitics, regulation, and AI, are of critical concern for most leaders today. Others, like changing demographics and workers, are long-term issues that require planning and attention now. Still others, such as energy and climate, are too big for a single chapter and will get their own deep dive in the next publication.

Together, these multidecade trends are quickly creating opportunities for business leaders, policymakers, and regulators to redefine the world as we know it. In the business landscape there is a tremendous amount of optimism — reflected in the bullishness of American equity markets, but also globally with the possibilities of new winners taking the stage.

By understanding these dynamics and putting them in proper context, leaders can better anticipate challenges, seize opportunities, and position their organizations for success. We hope you enjoy our “lightest heavy read” combining infographics and short essays in the pages that follow.