Climate Change is seen as the world’s Top Global Threat‚ particularly in Africa and Latin America.

But Middle East countries‚ Asia‚ the US and Europeans cite ISIS as a great danger‚ as the militant group seeking to create an Islamic state intensifies its grisly public executions.

These are the findings of a new Pew Research Center survey‚ conducted in 40 countries among 45‚435 respondents from March 25 to May 27‚ 2015.

Global economic instability also figures prominently as the top concern in a number of countries‚ and it is the second biggest concern in half of the countries surveyed.

In contrast‚ concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme as well as cyber attacks on governments‚ banks or corporations are limited to a few nations. Apprehension about tensions between Russia and its neighbours‚ or territorial disputes between China and surrounding countries‚ largely remain regional concerns.

South Africans’ top concerns are:

•Global climate change 47%

•Global economic instability 33%

•ISIS 26%

•Iran’s nuclear programme 25%

•Cyber attacks 28%

•Territorial disputes with China 22%

•Tensions with Russia 18%.

Climate change was cited as the biggest worry by the public in 19 of the 40 nations surveyed‚ making it the most widespread concern of any issue included in the survey.

A median of 61% of Latin Americans said they are very concerned about climate change‚ the highest share of any region‚ Pew said in a statement. And more than half in every Latin American nation surveyed reported substantial concerns about climate change. “In Peru and Brazil‚ where years of declining deforestation rates have slowly started to climb‚ fully three-quarters express anxiety about climate change.”

Sub-Saharan Africans also voiced substantial concerns about climate change. A median of 59% said they are very concerned‚ including about half or more in all countries surveyed. Climate change is particularly worrying in Burkina Faso (79%)‚ Uganda (74%) and Ghana (71%)‚ while South Africans (47%) and Tanzanians (49%) are the least concerned.

Both regions are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change‚ as is Asia‚ where a median of 41% voiced great concern about the issue. Indians (73%) and Filipinos (72%) are particularly worried.

Fear of ISIS was a strong feature in 14 countries.

As ISIS continues to control territory in Iraq and Syria‚ concern in neighbouring countries is high. More than eight-in-ten in Lebanese (84%) are very concerned about ISIS. Fear is especially high among Muslims in Lebanon‚ Syria’s western neighbour: 90% of Sunnis and 87% of Shia say they are very concerned‚ compared with 76% of Christians. More than half in Jordan (62%) and the Palestinian territories (54%) also express substantial worries about ISIS. Compared with other international issues‚ concern about ISIS also ranks highly in Israel and Turkey‚ which has seen a flood of refugees across its southern border as violence escalates.

In Europe‚ a median of 70% expressed serious concerns about the threat posed by the growing organisation. A majority of Americans (68%) and Canadians (58%) are also very concerned about the looming threat of the Islamic State. In both countries‚ anxiety about ISIS is the top concern of the issues included in the survey.

Concern is similarly high in a number of Asian nations‚ including South Korea (75%)‚ Japan (72%)‚ Australia (69%) and Indonesia (65%). Publics in all four countries cite ISIS as their top concern.

Relatively few in Africa and Latin America voiced serious concern about the threat of ISIS. Only in Tanzania do roughly half (51%) report substantial concerns‚ the highest of any country in either region.

While concerns about climate change and ISIS took the top spots in an overwhelming majority of the countries surveyed‚ the most frequent secondary concern around the world is the instability of the global economy.

A top concern in five countries‚ including Russia‚ the economy is the second highest concern in 20 countries.

Economic instability is among the top threats in Latin America‚ where a median of 54% express serious concerns. Six-in-ten in Brazil and Venezuela say they are very concerned about economic issues‚ the highest in Latin America. Both nations have seen little to no growth in the past year‚ and their economic woes are expected to deepen in 2015.

Economic worries are similarly troubling for countries in Africa. Ghanaians (67%)‚ Ugandans (62%) and Senegalese (59%) are most concerned about the economy‚ but economic instability is considered one of the top two concerns in every country surveyed in Africa.

Russia and Ukraine‚ which are facing contracting economies in 2015‚ consider economic instability a major threat. In Russia‚ 43% say they are very concerned about the economy. About a third of Ukrainians (35%) agree; economic worries are second only to their concerns about tensions with Russia.

The economy is somewhat less concerning in Europe‚ Asia and the Middle East. Still‚ a third or more in each region say they are very concerned about global economic instability‚ and the issue still ranks as the second-highest threat in seven countries‚ including some of the world’s largest economies – China‚ France‚ India and Italy all rate economic issues as one of their top two concerns.

Fewer are concerned about cyber attacks‚ although there are pockets of anxiety. In particular‚ worries about the systematic hacking of computer networks are highest in the US (59%) and South Korea (55%)‚ both of which experienced high profile cyberattacks in recent years. Fewer than half in every other country surveyed express serious concerns about the threat of cyber attacks.