Hope is on the decline across Australia, according to new Tearfund report

Tearfund Australia has released its Global Hope Report for the second year in a row, together with the leading research agency NCLS Research. The report identifies what Australians believe are the most important global challenges affecting our world today as well as their current levels of hope for the world, Australia, their communities, and their own lives. The report also explores how Christian beliefs, faith practices—such as prayer and church attendance—and community affect people’s sense of hope.

In 2025, less than 1 in 5 Australians reported feeling ‘hopeful’ or ‘very hopeful’ about the future of the world, compared to 1 in 4 people in 2024. The findings reveal that more Australians are now concerned about political instability, war, economic insecurity, and climate change. Political instability saw the sharpest increases in 2025—up 12% from 2024. Meanwhile, young people aged 18-34 years old expressed the most concern about the impact of a changing climate on their futures. 

“It's hard not to be looking at the daunting climate research and rising global political instability,” says one respondent in the report. Others echoed the sentiment saying, “I am worried for my children and grandchildren,” and, “I feel pretty bleak about the future of the planet and humanity.”

When it comes to feelings of hope for their own lives and communities, Australians are more likely to report feeling ‘hopeful’ or ‘very hopeful’ about the future. “I’m hopeful for my future because I know whether it’s big or small, I can do something good,” says one respondent.

The data also highlights how different faith and spiritual practices impact our levels of hope. Encouragingly, the research identifies faith, connection, and action as catalysts for hope, and shows that those who regularly attend a faith community and pray more frequently have higher levels of hope for the future of the world. Additionally, it suggests that when we take action to create meaningful change, we increase hope for ourselves and our communities. 

That’s why Tearfund has launched the Together For Hope campaign—to equip Christians across Australia with practical ways they can bring hope to a weary world. In-person events will be held nationwide this August for the Australian Church to gather in the shared purpose of growing hope in our nation and our world. Tearfund has also created a personal reflective guide full of essays from leading Christian voices across Australia and beyond titled Practising Hope: Essays on living what we long for to encourage and inspire Christians to embody hope in their communities and the world. 

Bec Oates, CEO at Tearfund, says, “If ever the world needed hope, it’s now. As Christians, we have an opportunity to demonstrate a courageous hope within Australia by remaining steadfast in our commitment to loving and caring for our global neighbours. We believe that when we join arms together we can be people and places of hope for a weary world.”

To learn more about the Together For Hope campaign—including events, resources, and to download the 2025 Global Hope Report—visit: www.tearfund.org.au/hope. 

For media enquiries, please contact: 

Melody Murton
Head of Communications & Marketing/
03 9264 7000
[email protected]

Bec Oates (CEO, Tearfund) and Greg Hewson (Fundraising & Engagement Director, Tearfund) are available for interview.

Tearfund is a movement of Christians in Australia working in partnership to tackle the root causes of poverty, release hope, champion justice, and equip communities to flourish. To learn more, visit: tearfund.org.au.

NCLS Research is a world-leading research agency that focuses on connecting churches and their communities. NCLS Research’s most well-known, five-yearly project is called the National Church Life Survey, which has had millions of participants. To learn more, visit: ncls.org.au.