World Social Report – serie

The nature of crises has been transformed significantly in recent years. Shocks have become more intense, widespread, and interlinked. Extreme weather events happen with increasing frequency and ferocity; economic, financial, social, and health shocks quickly spread around the world; conflict and insecurity are a daily reality for millions. The combined effect of more numerous and more powerful shocks, denser interconnections, and existing shortfalls creates a daunting challenge to social development in countries, already struggling to make significant progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.

The world has seen extraordinary social and economic progress over the past three decades. Unprecedented gains in reducing extreme poverty, and improvements in material well-being have demonstrated the transformative potential of collective action. Despite these gains, societies across the world face deep challenges. Inequalities remain stubbornly high and economic insecurity is on the rise. Many people struggle to earn adequate incomes in precarious jobs and countless families remain one misfortune away from falling into poverty. Frustration with the status quo is fueling distrust and straining the very foundations of global solidarity. The evidence presented in the World Social Report 2025 underscores the need for urgent action: the risks of allowing the vicious cycle of economic insecurity, inequality and declining trust to persist are too high. A new policy consensus based on three guiding principles — equity, economic security for all, and solidarity — is needed to tackle today’s social challenges at their roots and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The rationale and objectives of such consensus are set out in the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Renewed momentum is now needed to translate this collective vision of sustainable development into action.

In adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, world leaders committed themselves to leaving no one behind in pursuit of the eradication of extreme poverty and protection of the planet. Through concerted efforts galvanized by the MDGs, the world has made progress in reducing poverty, but social exclusion persists in both developed and developing countries. At the same time, some countries have been able to effectively promote inclusion even at low levels of income and development. This volume of the RWSS will focus on social inclusion. In particular, it will examine patterns of social exclusion and will assess whether growth and development processes have been inclusive, paying particular attention to the links between poverty and inequality trends, changes in the world of work and inclusion – or exclusion. The report will also highlight policy options to promote inclusive development through social and macroeconomic policies and institutional transformation for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.