World War II is imminent, and many Americans and Europeans are worried: Polls – National
Eighty years after VE Day, this marked the official surrender of the Nazis and the end of the Six Years of the European War, with many worried about the imminent World War III.
New Yougov votes in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States show that 41% to 55% of respondents in each country believe another world war could occur in the next five to 10 years. 45% of Americans hold the same view.
According to separate IPSOS data, 82% of Canadians They said they strongly agree that the world has become more dangerous in 2024, down five points from the previous year.
The table shows the proportion of respondents in Europe and North America who believe that World War III may occur within the next five to ten years.
YouGov
Yugoff said that if another world war occurs, most people (68% to 76%) believe that the conflict will involve nuclear weapons. In addition, between 57 and 73% of people believe that World War III will cause higher casualties than previous global conflicts.
According to the National World War II Museum of New Orleans, World War II claimed 45 million civilians and 15 million lives in battle, although the number of people varies worldwide.
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The poll also found that 25% to 44% believed that if another world war occurred within the next 5-10 years, it would result in the death of most of the world’s population.
The discovery of ipsos reflects this sentiment, with the threat of nuclear war occupying high places in the minds of the global population. The research institute said 72% of people believe that nuclear, biological or chemical warfare could happen somewhere in the world.
Furthermore, YouGov found that among all the countries surveyed, there was a “clear feeling” that most people thought their respective armies would not be fully prepared to enter the war.
“Only Western Europeans believe that in the case of World War III, their national army could effectively defend their country, from a low 16% in Italy to a high score of 44% in France,” the survey said.
“By comparison, 71% of Americans are confident that the armed forces can defend their country,” Yugoff found.
The table shows the level of confidence that various countries have in their respective armies defend their own countries in the midst of conflict.
YouGov
As for the source of the threat, most European countries regard Russia as the culprit, with 72% to 82% of Western Europeans telling YouGov that they see superpowers as the main or modest threat to European peace. Meanwhile, 69% of Americans agree.
Ever since the start of the second term of U.S. President Donald Trump, attitudes towards once Stein's allies in Europe, have changed, and many now believe the country is an imminent threat to peace.
According to Ipsos, 21% of the world said his becoming president would help improve world security before Trump won, while 45% said former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris won the victory, which would make the world safer.
Meanwhile, Canadians are more likely to think Harris’ victory (54%) will make the world safer, while 21% say the Trump victory is the same.
These findings are also reflected in YouGov data.
“With Donald Trump’s threat to Greenland, Canada and Panama and his position on Ukraine, the majority of Spain (58%), Germany (55%) and France (53%) (53%) see tensions between Europe and the United States, the main or moderate threat to continental peace,” it said.
The poll continues: “At the same time, while a third (34%) still agrees with their Western European counterparts, it is unlikely that Americans will say that.”
In addition to the threat of the world war, Ipsos believes that domestic terrorist attacks are the reason respondents are concerned, with 66% of people deeming terrorism a threat, followed by violations of personal safety and security, which is 61%, while conflicts between ethnic groups are 60% in 2024.
Yougov sampled 1,622 adults in the UK, 1,081 in France, 2,381 adults in Germany, 1,023 in Italy, 1,051 in Spain, between April 3 and 16, 2025 in Spain and 1,152.
ipsos surveyed 22,989 adults aged 18 and over in India, in Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, Turkiye and the United States, in Thailand, 20-74, Indonesia and Singapore, 21-74, from September 20 to October 20, 2024, in all other countries.
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
