The World Ahead 2025 from The Economist

From the editor

Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

Leaders

The year ahead

Illustration of power boats in the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China

The year ahead

Calendar 2025

Our selection of events taking place around the world

Superforecasters

Britain

Europe

United States

President elect Donald Trump greet supporters during a campaign rally

The Americas

Illustration of a crack in a glass, which doubles as Latin America

Asia

China

Illustration of the Chinese and US flags, with the US presidential lectern in the middle

Middle East & Africa

Demonstrators mark the 45th anniversary of the US embassy takeover in Tehran, Iran

International

Illustration of three presidential lecterns, each with a red button

Industries

Wild cards

Illustration of a solar storm with satellites colliding

Business

Illustration of batteries making a map of the world

Finance & economics

An illustration, with a piggy bank as the central theme. Surrounded by banks and interest rates

Down to earth

Interest rates will come down sharply in 2025

The global economy has had a series of shocks, including the pandemic, an inflation spike and the invasion of Ukraine. As the dust settles, what has changed?

Science & technology

An illustrative collage of a large pill evoking negative space and AI imagery

Culture

Illustration of a roll of film, signyfing the adapion of video games into film

Obituary