A refugee Camp./ PHOTO ; Pexel
Ahead of the 2025 G20 Summit taking place this weekend, November 22–24, in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Rockefeller Foundation released the results of its latest study, A Mandate for International Cooperation: G20 Popular Opinion on Global Action.
The survey highlights public opinion across the world’s largest economies on the importance of humanitarian and international development cooperation.
Key findings show that 63% of respondents across all G20 countries (excluding Russia) say at least one humanitarian or international development-focused issue is a top personal priority.
Additionally, 41% identified preventing wars and conflicts as one of their top three concerns.
“These findings make clear that people want to see their governments work together to solve problems and protect the vulnerable,” said Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, President of The Rockefeller Foundation.
“At a moment of great challenge and great possibility, we have an opportunity to reimagine how nations cooperate and to build a stronger shared future together.”
The survey also found that 60% of adults across the G20 (excluding Russia) agree that their country should cooperate on global challenges even if it means compromising some national interests.
Around half said international cooperation is in the personal interest of their families, including more than six in ten in China, India, and Saudi Arabia, and more than half in Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States.
Only a small minority (23%) believed international cooperation is not in their interest, while the remainder were unsure.
Humanitarian Priorities Across G20 Countries
The G20 includes the world’s largest economies, which together hold the majority of the global population, economic output, and responsibility for emissions.
Decisions by these nations can profoundly shape humanitarian outcomes in areas such as health, climate, food security, global stability, and development.
To understand public views on international cooperation, The Rockefeller Foundation, through its affiliated charity RF Catalytic Capital, commissioned UK-based Focaldata to survey 19,192 adults across 18 G20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The survey was conducted from October 31 to November 7, 2025. Respondents were representative by age, gender, region, ethnicity, education, and past vote.
While the African Union, European Union, and Russia are part of the G20, they were not surveyed individually.
Survey findings indicate that respondents prioritize humanitarian issues that benefit all of humanity, not just their own countries.
Preventing wars and conflicts was the most pressing concern across nearly all countries, alongside issues like access to food and clean water, poverty, humanitarian aid, and preventing childhood death and disease.
In the United States, respondents prioritized addressing food and clean water access almost twice as much as managing migration.
Confidence in International Cooperation
Strong majorities of G20 respondents believe international organizations should lead development and humanitarian efforts, while national governments focus on freedoms such as expression, religion, and belief, as well as migration management.
Two-thirds of respondents expressed confidence in international actors’ ability to address global challenges, and most trust international organizations and NGOs to achieve meaningful outcomes.
The survey also identified three key worldviews that shape support for international cooperation: producing tangible results, having a personal stake in global issues, and a country’s influence in international affairs.
These clusters illustrate the diversity of perspectives across the G20.
Building on Previous Research
These findings build on The Rockefeller Foundation’s recent survey of 34 countries, released during the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, which coincided with the launch of its US$50 million Build the Shared Future initiative.
The initiative seeks to create solutions that respond more effectively to crises and promote a healthier, more secure, and prosperous global future by breaking down silos in global development and humanitarian sectors.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
Founded 112 years ago, The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy focused on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation. Its mission is to enable individuals, families, and communities worldwide to flourish.
