The latest World Uncertainty Index (WUI), as measured by the frequency of the word “uncertainty” in the quarterly Economist Intelligence Unit country reports, touched an all-time high of 80,038 at the end of the June 2025 quarter.
The latest figures are 44% higher than the values seen at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, clearly emphasising the role of the current geopolitical climate, including tariffs, wars, and worsening International relations.
Business leaders must update their strategic framework to include geopolitics as one of the primary forces, rather than sitting on the sidelines of pure risk management.
