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Study reveals key global concerns; Mental Health tops global rankings for the second year, while Unemployment remains the top issue in the US
Semrush (NYSE: SEMR), a leading online visibility management SaaS platform, today unveiled its second Annual Global Issues Index. This extensive study highlights shifting societal concerns, offering valuable insights to help organizations effectively navigate and address evolving global challenges.
In its second edition, co-authored by Columbia University Professor Jeremy Kagan, the Index reveals the most searched societal issues based on average monthly Google searches between January 2020 and June 2024, and ranks them across 35 countries. The study lists the Top 10 issues in each country, as well as a global aggregate ranking, from a group of 24 core issues including abortion, gun control, sustainability, pollution, unemployment, mental health, the war on drugs, and more.
“We’re pleased to deliver the second edition of the Annual Global Issues Index, a resource that highlights the most pressing societal issues spanning 35 countries,” said Andrew Warden, CMO of Semrush. “Our goal is to equip marketers with actionable data that helps them create compelling campaigns that resonate with their audiences and address the issues that matter most."
Key findings from the report include:
- Mental Health remains a top global concern as Sustainability’s search interest declines: In 2024, the top 5 most pressing societal issues based on search across the world include Mental Health (1), War on Drugs (2), Public Health (3), Pollution (4), and Sustainability (5). Compared to 2023, Sustainability has dropped from third to fifth place, while Public Health and Pollution have swapped positions.
- In the United States, Unemployment and Mental Health continued to dominate: Unemployment and Mental Health remained the top concerns in 2024, while Abortion and Inflation surged, both climbing two spots. Meanwhile, searches for Sustainability and College Debt saw notable declines compared to 2023.
- Across Europe, focus shifted as interest in Racism, Unemployment, and the War on Drugs surged: Racism, Unemployment, and the War on Drugs saw increased search interest in 2024, while Sustainability and Pollution slipped in the rankings, reflecting a shift away from environmental topics.
- In Asia, Public Health gained momentum while Sustainability declined: Public Health saw a significant rise in 2024, climbing in the rankings, while interest in Sustainability dropped—potentially linked to the impact of environmental protection policies.
- Mental Health and Public Health led in Australia and New Zealand: In 2024, Mental Health and Public Health continued to dominate search interest, while Unemployment searches rose by 10%, pointing to growing concerns about economic conditions.
- Education and Energy surged in Africa and the Middle East: Education and Energy saw the largest increases in search interest in 2024, while interest in Sustainability and College Debt waned, indicating shifting priorities in these regions.
“Analyzing search volume offers a unique lens into global priorities, revealing how public concern evolves over time. The Annual Global Issues Index provides critical insights into the changing landscape of societal issues,” said Jeremy Kagan, Columbia University Professor. “This comprehensive study helps us understand shifting public interests with greater clarity and offers valuable data on global concerns.”
The Annual Global Issues Index was compiled using the Semrush Keyword Magic Tool, which analyzed over 159,000 keywords, phrases, and queries across 24 core issues to determine the average monthly search volume for each topic. The search volumes were ranked from highest to lowest across the 35 countries studied, revealing the Top 10 most searched issues in each country over the past five years.
To discover more about the most significant societal challenges today—and how businesses can use these insights to make a greater impact on the world and their customers—you can download the full report here.
