Trends v2.0

Which trends move the needle

Every trend, ranked as on the home page: by its share of all the attention the list draws, by how far its attention rose or fell against the period before, or by how much it usually moves from week to week. Sensitivity is how strongly a trend bears on the scenarios, from 0 to 100; the composite weighs sensitivity at 40%, PageRank at 30%, betweenness at 20% and eigenvector centrality at 10%, each first scaled so its highest trend is 100.

The trends with the largest share of attention, over the last week. 250 of 250 trends can be read for this. Select a column heading to sort by it.

Share is a trend's part of all the attention the 250 trends draw over the last week, from Wikipedia reading and Google searching. WoW is the change in its attention against the week before; Rising and Falling mean more than 12% up or down. Stable, Shifting and Turbulent say how much its attention usually moves from week to week (the standard deviation of its weekly change over the last 26 weeks): the quietest third of trends, the middle third, the busiest. The line is its share over three years.

#
Trend
Capability domain
Share
Change, WoW
Weekly move
Sensitivity
Composite
Share, 3 years
1Mental health demand growthHuman Capital4.1%+25%±7% Stable7.520.3
2Global South coalitionsInformation & Influence2.9%+20%±36% Turbulent11.727.0
3Heat & pollution health burdenHuman Capital2.3%+22%±36% Turbulent5.86.1
4Private military & proxy forcesNational Security2.3%+20%±9% Shifting6.719.0
5Contested maritime accessNational Security2.2%−5%±31% Turbulent10.821.1
6Chronic disease & obesity burdenHuman Capital2.1%+1%±7% Stable15.023.6
7Open-source intelligence & transparencyInformation & Influence2.0%+36%±12% Shifting14.226.5
8Shifting economic weightTrade & Investment2.0%+10%±27% Turbulent5.826.6
9Corruption & state captureGovernance & Integrity2.0%+23%±7% Stable23.360.9
10Civil unrest & protest mobilisationGovernance & Integrity1.8%+81%±22% Turbulent18.340.4
11Renewable generation expansionStrategic Infrastructure1.8%+8%±7% Stable8.320.2
12Synthetic media & deepfakesInformation & Influence1.7%+18%±15% Turbulent11.725.4
13Biometric identificationCritical Technology1.5%+13%±6% Stable4.211.2
14Electric transport & charging networksStrategic Infrastructure1.5%+9%±6% Stable6.711.7
15General-purpose AI capabilityCritical Technology1.4%+1%±8% Stable12.523.9
16Climate change & physical riskStrategic Infrastructure1.4%−2%±12% Turbulent10.819.2
17Drone & autonomous warfareNational Security1.3%+13%±6% Stable11.723.7
18Rail & mass transit expansionStrategic Infrastructure1.2%+10%±5% Stable6.79.6
19State fragility & intrastate violenceNational Security1.2%+18%±8% Stable10.014.7
20Earth observation & geospatial sensingCritical Technology1.1%+7%±6% Stable13.313.5
21Fossil fuel supply & refiningStrategic Infrastructure1.1%−3%±8% Stable11.721.7
22Polarisation & populismGovernance & Integrity1.1%+12%±9% Shifting22.552.9
23Conspiracy movements & science denialInformation & Influence1.1%+19%±6% Stable13.327.5
24Commercial launch & space accessCritical Technology1.0%−45%±39% Turbulent2.53.7
25Misinformation & disinformationInformation & Influence1.0%+14%±7% Stable21.738.5
26Next-generation mobile networksStrategic Infrastructure0.99%+24%±8% Stable11.718.5
27Structural inflation pressureFinancial Strength0.96%+10%±9% Shifting20.026.8
28Batteries & energy storageProduction & Innovation0.94%−5%±5% Stable14.233.3
29Advanced materialsCritical Technology0.90%+8%±5% Stable5.811.1
30Illicit finance & beneficial ownershipGovernance & Integrity0.89%+13%±8% Shifting19.243.3
31Medical devices & neurotechnologyProduction & Innovation0.85%+1%±4% Stable2.58.8
32Quantum computingCritical Technology0.82%−3%±28% Turbulent4.27.5
33Executive overreach & emergency powersGovernance & Integrity0.79%+28%±14% Turbulent29.262.4
34Connected infrastructure operationStrategic Infrastructure0.79%+6%±9% Shifting12.518.5
35Tariff barrier normalisationTrade & Investment0.76%−10%±18% Turbulent10.829.4
36Fusion energyCritical Technology0.76%+7%±12% Shifting1.79.2
37General-purpose & humanoid roboticsCritical Technology0.73%+5%±9% Shifting1.79.3
38Pathogen emergence pressureHuman Capital0.72%+38%±21% Turbulent8.316.7
39Satellite connectivity expansionStrategic Infrastructure0.72%+44%±16% Turbulent10.016.5
40Drones & advanced air mobilityProduction & Innovation0.71%+18%±12% Shifting9.29.6
41Erosion of rights & civic freedomsGovernance & Integrity0.70%+15%±9% Shifting19.254.0
42AI & knowledge-work automationHuman Capital0.70%−2%±8% Stable10.829.7
43Open-weight AI diffusionCritical Technology0.69%+17%±14% Turbulent9.218.5
44Biodiversity & ecosystem lossStrategic Infrastructure0.68%+7%±7% Stable4.215.2
45Solar manufacturing cost declineProduction & Innovation0.68%−17%±15% Turbulent10.022.3
46Urban population concentrationStrategic Infrastructure0.67%+6%±5% Stable10.028.7
47Conscription & reserve mobilisationNational Security0.66%−6%±8% Stable4.215.2
48Data protection & digital rightsGovernance & Integrity0.64%−4%±6% Stable15.833.3
49Espionage & insider threatNational Security0.63%+36%±8% Stable10.813.0
50Long-range strike proliferationNational Security0.62%+4%±24% Turbulent10.024.6
51Subsea cable & pipeline dependenceStrategic Infrastructure0.62%+111%±24% Turbulent11.721.5
52Grid expansion & demand flexibilityStrategic Infrastructure0.62%+11%±7% Stable10.019.7
53Stablecoins & digital currenciesFinancial Strength0.62%+10%±8% Shifting10.819.4
54Online harms & safetyInformation & Influence0.60%+5%±6% Stable4.213.0
55Satellite positioning & timing dependenceStrategic Infrastructure0.59%+16%±8% Stable6.714.0
56AI-mediated information accessInformation & Influence0.58%+10%±6% Stable8.321.1
57Organised crime & illicit economiesNational Security0.56%+21%±5% Stable5.014.8
58Rule of law & judicial independenceGovernance & Integrity0.55%+6%±6% Stable25.865.3
59Regulatory capture & lobbying powerGovernance & Integrity0.54%−9%±17% Turbulent25.059.5
60Biosecurity & dual-use biologyNational Security0.51%+86%±20% Turbulent7.510.9
61Cloud & edge computingCritical Technology0.50%−5%±9% Shifting10.020.5
62Early-warning coverageStrategic Infrastructure0.50%−3%±23% Turbulent5.012.7
63Militarisation of spaceNational Security0.50%+26%±25% Turbulent4.216.5
64Undersea military competitionNational Security0.47%+2%±13% Turbulent6.717.6
65Automated AI researchCritical Technology0.45%−7%±34% Turbulent5.825.9
66Advanced nuclear fissionCritical Technology0.44%−3%±10% Shifting4.211.7
67Compute scaling & AI infrastructureCritical Technology0.43%+2%±9% Shifting9.219.6
68Water treatment & desalinationStrategic Infrastructure0.42%−11%±6% Stable10.024.6
69Gene editing & cell therapiesCritical Technology0.42%−6%±7% Stable2.59.7
70Persistent nutritional deprivationHuman Capital0.39%+6%±9% Shifting10.827.2
71Remittance dependenceFinancial Strength0.39%−4%±9% Shifting6.713.7
72Capital concentration in AIFinancial Strength0.39%−2%±14% Turbulent15.027.7
73Orbital debris & congestionCritical Technology0.39%+27%±17% Turbulent0.00.0
74Aquaculture intensificationProduction & Innovation0.38%+5%±7% Stable1.75.6
75Autonomous vehiclesProduction & Innovation0.38%+5%±11% Shifting2.58.9
76Fertiliser supply dependenceTrade & Investment0.38%+12%±22% Turbulent9.218.9
77Antimicrobial resistanceHuman Capital0.37%+25%±7% Stable6.722.7
78Diet & nutrition shiftsProduction & Innovation0.37%−8%±6% Stable5.06.8
79AI chips & accelerator supplyCritical Technology0.37%+9%±7% Stable10.021.7
80Regional trade agreement deepeningTrade & Investment0.37%+4%±12% Turbulent5.822.4
81Nuclear arsenal growth & proliferationNational Security0.36%+3%±12% Shifting5.020.4
82Ransomware & cyber extortionNational Security0.36%−28%±51% Turbulent3.316.6
83Sustainable consumption & product durabilityProduction & Innovation0.36%−2%±7% Stable0.85.0
84Electrification of heat & industryStrategic Infrastructure0.36%+20%±9% Shifting8.327.3
85Terrorism & violent extremismNational Security0.35%+4%±11% Shifting2.56.3
86Alternative proteinsProduction & Innovation0.34%+16%±10% Shifting2.56.5
87Circular materials & recyclingProduction & Innovation0.34%+15%±6% Stable2.57.1
88Religious & identity nationalismInformation & Influence0.34%+23%±10% Shifting9.220.6
89Persistently low fertilityHuman Capital0.33%−9%±6% Stable0.85.5
90Dollar dependence & payment fragmentationFinancial Strength0.33%−8%±12% Shifting17.533.0
91Healthy lifespan divergenceHuman Capital0.33%+17%±6% Stable5.812.2
92AI safety & governanceGovernance & Integrity0.32%−18%±14% Turbulent11.727.4
93Lithography & chip-tool chokepointsCritical Technology0.31%+23%±20% Turbulent7.521.0
94Smart manufacturing & digital twinsProduction & Innovation0.30%−8%±5% Stable10.817.2
95Sovereign wealth & state capitalTrade & Investment0.30%−5%±25% Turbulent7.522.3
96Hybrid & grey-zone coercionNational Security0.30%0%±24% Turbulent7.516.0
97Dams, reservoirs & flood defenceStrategic Infrastructure0.29%−26%±15% Turbulent7.519.2
98Sovereign debt & interest burdenFinancial Strength0.29%+7%±17% Turbulent22.555.2
99Foundational learning deficitsHuman Capital0.29%−21%±25% Turbulent5.016.7
100Slow growth & fiscal spaceFinancial Strength0.28%+5%±13% Turbulent27.541.4
101Rare earth processing concentrationTrade & Investment0.28%−24%±14% Turbulent10.022.9
102Lifelong learning & digital reskillingHuman Capital0.27%+21%±7% Stable10.819.7
103Agricultural soil degradationStrategic Infrastructure0.27%0%±6% Stable7.518.5
104Outsourcing & public-private deliveryGovernance & Integrity0.27%+6%±5% Stable15.839.8
105State capacity & deliveryGovernance & Integrity0.26%−6%±4% Stable52.583.4
106Business dynamism & start-up formationProduction & Innovation0.25%+7%±5% Stable15.025.5
107Skilled & research talent migrationHuman Capital0.25%+49%±13% Turbulent7.512.2
108Electromagnetic spectrum contestNational Security0.24%0%±7% Stable5.818.0
109Media provenance & authenticationInformation & Influence0.24%+32%±20% Turbulent10.823.0
110Post-quantum cryptography transitionCritical Technology0.24%+23%±10% Shifting5.88.6
111Enhanced geothermalCritical Technology0.24%+19%±11% Shifting2.58.4
112Age-related fiscal liabilitiesFinancial Strength0.23%+22%±16% Turbulent8.312.7
113Construction productivity & housing supplyProduction & Innovation0.23%+4%±6% Stable7.57.8
114Freshwater stress & transboundary waterStrategic Infrastructure0.23%−10%±9% Shifting10.014.3
115Health system demand imbalanceHuman Capital0.22%+12%±7% Stable18.329.5
116Asylum & migration system strainGovernance & Integrity0.21%+53%±16% Turbulent7.521.5
117Sovereign creditor fragmentationFinancial Strength0.21%+34%±14% Turbulent8.324.9
118Ocean economyProduction & Innovation0.21%+3%±7% Stable9.28.4
119Development finance as influenceInformation & Influence0.21%−9%±8% Shifting10.828.7
120Adaptable vaccine platformsCritical Technology0.21%+1%±30% Turbulent10.822.4
121International student flowsInformation & Influence0.21%+17%±12% Shifting5.88.9
122Data-centre power & water demandStrategic Infrastructure0.20%+2%±10% Shifting9.218.5
123Censorship & surveillanceInformation & Influence0.20%+7%±8% Stable6.722.7
124Port & carrier concentrationTrade & Investment0.20%+12%±6% Stable6.724.0
125Hydrogen & low-carbon fuelsProduction & Innovation0.20%−13%±9% Shifting4.211.6
126Global health governanceGovernance & Integrity0.19%−4%±11% Shifting13.332.3
127External liquidity buffer requirementsFinancial Strength0.19%+6%±14% Turbulent15.032.9
128Retail & food-service automationProduction & Innovation0.19%+6%±16% Turbulent1.74.5
129Reproductive, maternal & child healthHuman Capital0.19%−13%±6% Stable8.320.6
130Technical & occupational skill shortagesHuman Capital0.19%+21%±7% Stable25.044.4
131Whole-of-society resilienceNational Security0.18%+8%±13% Turbulent15.833.3
132Soft power & cultural influenceInformation & Influence0.18%−30%±17% Turbulent0.87.9
133Non-tariff compliance & traceabilityTrade & Investment0.18%+37%±12% Shifting7.514.4
134Trade corridor competitionTrade & Investment0.18%−6%±8% Stable10.034.7
135Entrenched opportunity inequalityHuman Capital0.18%−4%±20% Turbulent21.755.8
136Food loss & wasteProduction & Innovation0.17%−12%±7% Stable5.014.0
137Strategic stockpiles & reservesStrategic Infrastructure0.17%−14%±17% Turbulent19.227.8
138Agricultural technologyProduction & Innovation0.17%+13%±6% Stable8.316.0
139Reshoring & localised manufacturingProduction & Innovation0.16%−3%±7% Stable10.829.2
140Sustainable finance & environmental riskFinancial Strength0.16%−1%±14% Turbulent10.016.8
141Critical minerals supply constraintsTrade & Investment0.16%−15%±9% Shifting8.317.6
142Digital sovereignty & data localisationCritical Technology0.16%−1%±9% Shifting10.820.6
143Household debt & housing affordabilityFinancial Strength0.16%+8%±8% Stable7.517.5
144Regional medicines manufacturingProduction & Innovation0.16%−2%±7% Stable11.730.9
145Frontier model concentrationCritical Technology0.15%−13%±9% Shifting6.716.5
146Digital & AI-supported careHuman Capital0.15%−5%±8% Stable11.715.4
147Non-bank finance growthFinancial Strength0.15%+1%±6% Stable7.526.0
148Alliance realignment & burden-shiftingNational Security0.15%−21%±14% Turbulent10.028.7
149Industrial robotics & automationProduction & Innovation0.15%+9%±9% Shifting7.518.4
150Lean inventories & just-in-time logisticsTrade & Investment0.15%−24%±10% Shifting8.314.6
151Population ageingHuman Capital0.14%−5%±6% Stable10.823.8
152Energy import dependenceTrade & Investment0.14%−21%±8% Stable13.319.0
153Research & development intensityProduction & Innovation0.14%−12%±8% Stable28.346.3
154Stretched asset valuationsFinancial Strength0.14%+4%±12% Shifting5.017.3
155Trade finance & correspondent banking gapsTrade & Investment0.14%+3%±7% Stable9.213.2
156Informal employment persistenceHuman Capital0.14%+3%±7% Stable11.725.8
157Financial inclusionFinancial Strength0.13%0%±9% Shifting10.010.1
158Domestic capital market deepeningFinancial Strength0.13%−4%±8% Stable10.829.6
159Advanced semiconductorsCritical Technology0.13%−14%±10% Shifting8.316.5
160Social protection coverage gapsGovernance & Integrity0.13%+53%±10% Shifting29.254.3
161Critical infrastructure protectionNational Security0.12%−8%±9% Shifting10.026.4
162Platform power over public discourseInformation & Influence0.12%−11%±10% Shifting8.323.3
163Weakening multilateral institutionsInformation & Influence0.12%−13%±17% Turbulent11.726.7
164Carbon pricing & environmental taxesGovernance & Integrity0.12%+3%±11% Shifting5.08.8
165Staple food export concentrationTrade & Investment0.12%−21%±10% Shifting9.217.1
166Concessional finance scarcityFinancial Strength0.12%−5%±7% Stable16.737.6
167Intellectual property access dependenceTrade & Investment0.12%−12%±9% Shifting25.034.0
168Gender participation divergenceHuman Capital0.11%+11%±8% Shifting5.814.0
169Access over ownership modelsProduction & Innovation0.11%+5%±6% Stable1.72.3
170Persistent armed conflictNational Security0.11%−23%±13% Turbulent8.316.3
171Food storage & cold chainsStrategic Infrastructure0.10%−18%±9% Shifting13.321.9
172Tax base erosion & coordinationFinancial Strength0.10%−14%±8% Shifting17.533.9
173Youth population expansionHuman Capital0.10%−1%±7% Stable5.818.5
174Commodity dependence & price volatilityTrade & Investment0.10%−6%±6% Stable23.329.7
175Digital payments & cash declineFinancial Strength0.10%−18%±16% Turbulent13.322.2
176Carbon capture, utilisation & storageProduction & Innovation0.10%−4%±7% Stable3.310.5
177Telecom network resilienceStrategic Infrastructure0.10%+21%±13% Turbulent11.736.2
178Arctic & polar competitionNational Security0.09%+2%±16% Turbulent0.00.0
179Digital language representation gapsInformation & Influence0.09%−19%±9% Shifting6.713.9
180Youth employment exclusionHuman Capital0.09%−4%±7% Stable6.715.9
181Quantum sensing & timingCritical Technology0.09%−2%±12% Shifting2.54.7
182Great-power competitionNational Security0.09%−25%±20% Turbulent23.339.3
183Urban cooling infrastructureStrategic Infrastructure0.09%−8%±14% Turbulent3.318.1
184Arms control erosionNational Security0.09%+17%±9% Shifting5.016.0
185State cyber intrusion & prepositioningNational Security0.09%+13%±10% Shifting10.020.2
186Rearmament & defence spendingNational Security0.08%−15%±13% Turbulent9.219.3
187Resilient construction & asset adaptationStrategic Infrastructure0.08%−15%±8% Shifting5.013.9
188AI inference efficiencyCritical Technology0.08%−8%±10% Shifting4.216.1
189Foreign investment slowdown & selectivityTrade & Investment0.08%−21%±10% Shifting15.841.1
190Middle-power diplomatic leverageInformation & Influence0.08%−3%±7% Stable13.335.7
191Distributed powerStrategic Infrastructure0.08%−13%±6% Stable8.326.4
192Public procurement capabilityGovernance & Integrity0.08%−18%±20% Turbulent22.560.2
193Carbon border adjustmentsTrade & Investment0.08%+1%±13% Turbulent5.014.3
194Public communication in crisisInformation & Influence0.07%−8%±20% Turbulent25.055.5
195Digital public infrastructureGovernance & Integrity0.07%+6%±29% Turbulent15.837.8
196Care labour demand growthHuman Capital0.07%+11%±9% Shifting8.325.4
197Biomarker-guided precision medicineCritical Technology0.07%−1%±9% Shifting6.710.1
198Industrial policy competitionProduction & Innovation0.07%−8%±7% Stable14.239.9
199Bank funding & deposit mobilityFinancial Strength0.07%−16%±6% Stable7.522.9
200Africa's demographic & economic riseTrade & Investment0.07%+39%±11% Shifting6.716.0
201Citizen participation & deliberative democracyGovernance & Integrity0.07%−10%±9% Shifting6.728.8
202Trade & investment fragmentationTrade & Investment0.07%−10%±11% Shifting14.235.4
203Local & city government capacityGovernance & Integrity0.07%−18%±18% Turbulent16.755.3
204Infrastructure ageing & maintenance backlogStrategic Infrastructure0.07%−13%±15% Turbulent8.334.5
205Civil service capability & payGovernance & Integrity0.07%+12%±7% Stable28.374.1
206AI-supported military decisionsNational Security0.07%−7%±11% Shifting4.213.3
207Synthetic biology & biomanufacturingCritical Technology0.07%−3%±8% Stable15.019.1
208AI-accelerated scienceCritical Technology0.07%0%±12% Shifting7.512.9
209Commercial property repricingFinancial Strength0.06%+16%±12% Shifting4.210.9
210Sanitation & hygiene access gapsHuman Capital0.06%−10%±10% Shifting6.714.1
211Algorithmic accountability & biasGovernance & Integrity0.06%+5%±8% Stable8.319.4
212Tokenisation of financial assetsFinancial Strength0.06%−11%±15% Turbulent9.215.9
213Migrant integration demandsHuman Capital0.06%0%±7% Stable7.512.7
214Diplomatic capacity under strainInformation & Influence0.05%−19%±8% Stable25.852.5
215Fiscal rules & budget credibilityGovernance & Integrity0.05%−7%±15% Turbulent20.849.0
216AI drug developmentProduction & Innovation0.05%−6%±16% Turbulent9.220.4
217Declining institutional trustInformation & Influence0.05%+5%±8% Shifting23.359.8
218Graduate skill mismatchHuman Capital0.05%+20%±9% Shifting4.215.9
219Technology diffusion & productivity gapsProduction & Innovation0.05%−20%±14% Turbulent20.040.9
220Technical standards competitionInformation & Influence0.04%−19%±11% Shifting17.531.6
221Emerging middle-class demandTrade & Investment0.04%−8%±8% Shifting1.711.1
222Export controls & economic coercionTrade & Investment0.04%−27%±12% Shifting15.037.1
223Climate-related population relocationHuman Capital0.04%−16%±9% Shifting5.89.8
224Election integrity & interferenceInformation & Influence0.04%+40%±27% Turbulent6.729.4
225Pharmaceutical input concentrationTrade & Investment0.04%−29%±11% Shifting11.717.0
226Hydrocarbon revenue dependenceFinancial Strength0.04%−46%±23% Turbulent9.213.6
227Decline of independent journalismInformation & Influence0.04%+1%±16% Turbulent12.539.3
228Economic security policyTrade & Investment0.04%−21%±12% Shifting14.232.7
229Sanctions circumvention networksTrade & Investment0.03%0%±43% Turbulent7.519.1
230Manufacturing overcapacityProduction & Innovation0.03%−5%±10% Shifting10.031.5
231Reliable energy access gapsStrategic Infrastructure0.03%−17%±18% Turbulent5.013.5
232Public-sector AI adoptionGovernance & Integrity0.03%−17%±10% Shifting7.526.8
233Foreign information manipulationInformation & Influence0.03%−7%±14% Turbulent10.824.5
234Defence industrial base & munitionsNational Security0.03%−33%±11% Shifting9.224.2
235Diaspora politics & transnational repressionInformation & Influence0.03%+32%±14% Turbulent5.015.9
236Military logistics complexityNational Security0.03%−21%±9% Shifting8.324.1
237International climate finance gapsFinancial Strength0.03%−16%±9% Shifting11.720.2
238Central bank independence under pressureGovernance & Integrity0.03%−24%±33% Turbulent6.728.6
239Insurance retreat & insurabilityFinancial Strength0.02%−14%±15% Turbulent7.517.7
240Firm & black-start capacityStrategic Infrastructure0.02%−5%±6% Stable10.021.0
241Adaptive regulationGovernance & Integrity0.02%−31%±16% Turbulent23.337.4
242Financial market infrastructure resilienceFinancial Strength0.02%−3%±13% Turbulent12.526.9
243Disaster risk financeFinancial Strength0.02%−8%±11% Shifting5.812.1
244Official statistics & data capacityGovernance & Integrity0.02%−52%±19% Turbulent15.042.0
245Digital & services trade growthTrade & Investment0.02%−16%±11% Shifting15.021.2
246Research security & science decouplingInformation & Influence0.01%−30%±13% Turbulent13.321.5
247Critical input supplier concentrationTrade & Investment0.01%−4%±12% Shifting9.226.9
248Health workforce scarcityHuman Capital0.01%−9%±8% Shifting12.532.5
249Credibility of external commitmentsInformation & Influence0.01%−12%±12% Shifting13.328.3
250Trade & logistics digitalisationTrade & Investment0.01%−20%±20% Turbulent13.314.0