Global Risk Management Survey
October 1, 2025 1 mins
Top 10 Global Risks
As risks increasingly overlap and evolve, managing them demands more than reactive strategies. This chapter explores the top-ranked risks from the survey and highlights how organizations that take a proactive, integrated approach can turn complexity into opportunity.
This year’s survey highlights how the risk landscape is shifting in both intensity and complexity. Geopolitical volatility, now a top 10 risk for the first time, reflects growing instability across trade, regulation and global relations. Cyber risk continues to dominate the rankings, with AI adoption accelerating both opportunity and exposure. Organizations are increasingly focused on quantifying cyber risk and embedding resilience across their operations.
Other notable movements include increasing competition, now fifth, driven by talent scarcity, technological disruption and reshaped trading relationships; supply chain failure, which remains a critical concern amid climate and geopolitical pressures; and regulatory change, which continues to challenge organizations navigating fragmented compliance environments.
These trends underscore the need for a more connected and adaptive approach to risk. One that moves beyond traditional frameworks, uses data and analytics and embeds strategy and resilience across the business.
Explore the articles below to dive deeper into each of the top 10 global risks. Learn what’s driving them, how they’re evolving, and how leading organizations are responding to stay ahead.
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01
Cyber Risk: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity
Cyber risk tops the global risk agenda in 2025 — and is forecast to retain the number one position through to 2028. As digital threats evolve, organizations should strengthen resilience, quantify exposure and adapt their risk strategy.
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02
Business Interruption: Managing Risk in an Interconnected World
Business interruption is the second-highest global risk in 2025 — but is expected to fall to seventh place by 2028. As interconnected threats multiply, from cyber attacks to climate events, organizations must diversify supply chains, embed geopolitical insight and regularly update continuity plans.
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03
Why Economic Slowdown is an Ongoing Risk for Organizations
Economic slowdown ranks as the number three global risk in 2025 — and is projected to rise to number two by 2028. Amid trade tensions, inflation and geopolitical instability, organizations must strengthen liquidity, enhance workforce agility and rethink capital strategies to stay resilient.
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04
Navigating Regulatory and Legislative Change
Regulatory change ranks as the fourth biggest global risk in 2025 — and is expected to fall to sixth place by 2028. As policy shifts accelerate across sustainability, technology, trade and the workforce, organizations must adopt agile compliance strategies and unlock proactive risk management.
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05
Increasing Competition Is Intensifying Risk for Organizations
Increasing competition ranks as the fifth biggest global risk in 2025 — and is projected to climb to number three by 2028. As technological disruption, talent scarcity and geopolitical shifts intensify market pressure, organizations must embrace agility, and rethink competitive strategy.
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06
Commodity Price Risk and Material Scarcity: An Escalating and Complex Risk
Commodity price risk ranks sixth globally in 2025 — and is forecast to climb to fourth place by 2028. With supply chains strained by geopolitical tensions and climate disruption, organizations should consider hedging strategies, diversifying sourcing and exploring innovative risk transfer solutions.
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07
Supply Chain or Distribution Failure: Navigating the New Normal
Supply chain failure ranks seventh globally in 2025 — and is projected to fall to twelfth place by 2028. As weather-related disruption, geopolitical tension and cyber threats converge, organizations must balance efficiency with resilience and diversify sourcing.
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08
Damage to Reputation or Brand: A Critical Risk
Damage to reputation or brand ranks eighth globally in 2025 — but is expected to fall to nineteenth by 2028. In an era of cyber threats, ESG scrutiny and social media amplification, organizations should quantify reputational risk and embed preventive measures into enterprise strategy.
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09
Geopolitical Volatility: Preparing for the Unpredictable
Geopolitical volatility ranks ninth globally in 2025 — and is forecast to rise to fifth by 2028. With conflict, trade disruption and political instability on the rise, organizations must monitor global developments, regularly assess operational exposure and conduct scenario planning.
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10
Cash Flow and Liquidity Risk: A Rising Challenge
Cash flow and liquidity risk re-enters the top ten global risks in 2025 — and is expected to remain in tenth place by 2028. Amid an uncertain macroeconomic outlook, organizations must strengthen forecasting and unlock working capital to build financial resilience.
Cyber Risk: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity
Global Risk Management Survey Findings
