Ipsos has released Ipsos 2025 Year in Review, a roundup of the year that reflects where public attention shifted, what mattered most and how national conversations evolved across technology, governance, economic conditions and social change.
Gillian Guerin, Regional Director, Marcom APAC, Ipsos, shared that Australia focused on AI regulation and youth exposure to technology. "Sixty-seven percent say AI products and services make them nervous, the highest across 30 countries. The upcoming social media ban for under-16s also influenced national discussion on digital wellbeing," she noted.
New Zealand, on the other hand, remained focused on inflation, with 60% naming it the top issue and government performance in managing national issues falling to 4.2 out of 10, its lowest score since 2017.
India recorded a rise in attention to mental wellbeing, with 73% thinking about it often. This figure is up from 58% in 2024.
"In Thailand, corruption was the top concern at 51%, while concern about military conflict remained significant at 41%. Earlier in the year, concern about military conflict rose in response to the border disputes with Cambodia before easing as domestic government issues returned to the forefront," Guerin said.
"Malaysia focused on immigration pressures, with 90% saying there are too many immigrants, the highest across 38 countries."
People in Singapore are confident about where the country is headed and in the quality of its public services, Guerin added, sharing that in the What Worries the World survey by Ipsos, 77% of Singaporeans said their country is headed in the right direction. And when comparing today's living conditions against what it was like 50 years ago, people are more likely to feel that healthcare and education (84% and 76% respectively) are better today.
"Despite this, and high economic growth the city state has experienced in the last five decades, Singaporeans are still more likely to say they would rather have been born in 1975 than 2025 (34% vs 30%)," she added.
Other highlights include:
- Japan’s appointment of its first female prime minister influenced expectations for gender representation. However, just 19% believe gender equality will progress in the next five years.
- South Koreans continued to support globalisation (77%) and prefer domestic products (76%).
- Indonesia experienced a 9.2-point decline in consumer confidence and shifts in perceptions of national economy over the year.
- China accelerated AI integration. Over nine in 10 (91% ) said AI has a positive impact.
