Evaluations of press, speech, and online freedom levels in various nations
Here's the rewritten article:
From the latest reports and studies, here's a lowdown on the key numbers, facts, and trends that are reshaping the world:
- Economic Outlook (As per IMF's World Economic Outlook April 2025)
The IMF expects global growth to slow to 1.8% in 2025, revised down from their January 2025 forecasts. This slowdown is due to trade tensions escalating, tariff rates rising to levels unseen in a century, and instability in global policies. Inflation is predicted to decrease, albeit at a slower rate than initially estimated. There's a looming cloud of downside risks, including tightening global financial conditions and plummeting sentiment, which could deepen the slowdown or even plunge some regions into recession[1][2].
The United States is expected to grow at 1.8% in 2025, cooler than before, but not indicative of a recession. Around 0.4% of the downgrade can be attributed to tariffs, while the rest is due to weakening momentum and diminishing consumer confidence[2]. The IMF advises countries to foster harmonious trade environments, cooperate internationally, address domestic policy gaps, and focus on policies that boost labor force participation, particularly among the elderly and women, and increase productivity through better integration of migrants and skills matching[1].
- Global Trade Trends (As per the WTO's Global Trade Outlook 2025)
The WTO projects world GDP growth at market exchange rates to be approximately 2.8% in 2025, moderating slightly to 2.6% in 2026. However, increasing trade tensions and tariff hikes pose significant risks to this outlook, potentially stifling growth if trade policy uncertainty intensifies[3].
- Societal and Development Data (As per the World Bank's World Development Indicators (WDI) April 2025 update)
The World Bank has introduced 43 new indicators under its Business Ready (B-READY) project, aiming to offer a more nuanced view of factors affecting private sector growth, such as regulations, services, efficiency, and international trade impacts. In addition, ten new indicators on forcibly displaced populations provide valuable insights into global forced migration trends[4].
Other updated data encompasses macroeconomic indicators (in collaboration with the IMF), electricity consumption and access, emissions from land use and forestry, child malnutrition and mortality rates, health risk factors, and reproductive health statistics[4].
- Public Concerns and Social Perceptions (As per surveys by Ipsos in April 2025)
Research across 29 countries reveals that 27% of people are worried about financial or political corruption as a primary issue in their countries, a consistent concern. Other social and political issues vary by region, but corruption consistently lingers as a recurring issue[5].
In essence, these findings indicate a global economy at a critical crossroads, challenged by slow growth, escalating trade tensions, and complex policy hurdles. To navigate these challenges, initiatives focused on structural reforms, international cooperation, and inclusive labor policies could hold the key to fostering resilience and promoting sustainable economic advancement[1][2][4].
- The economic downturn, as forecasted by the IMF's World Economic Outlook April 2025, is not only affecting global growth but also influencing the main political discussions around the world.
- Methodological research on public concerns, such as the surveys by Ipsos in April 2025, shows that religion is of less concern compared to financial or political corruption and settlement of immigration issues, indicating a shift in the general-news trends.
- The World Bank's World Development Indicators (WDI) update reveals intriguing trends in societal development, particularly in terms of immigration, as ten new indicators on forcibly displaced populations are introduced.
- Trade tensions and tariff hikes, as reported in the WTO's Global Trade Outlook 2025, are shaping economic conditions worldwide, impacting not only trade growth but also economic development in various regions.
- The IMF's advice for countries to foster harmonious trade environments and address domestic policy gaps, as mentioned in the World Economic Outlook April 2025, could have significant implications for global immigration policies and trends.


