Australians are more worried about the future than other nationalities, especially when it comes to financial inequity and climate change, according to a MetLife survey of consumers in 12 markets.

About 82% of Australians believe that next year “things will get worse before they get better”, compared with 73% globally.

Top concerns include financial inequity, which MetLife says is probably stronger in Australia because of rising interest rates, the number of homeowners coming off fixed-rate mortgages to higher repayments, increased cost of living and inflation pressures.

“Australians also feel climate change more keenly than most, seeing the effects of extreme weather conditions in the form of fires, floods, droughts and cyclones,” MetLife’s Future Insights Report says. “And from a crime perspective, headlines around data breaches across all types and sizes of organisations create a grave sense of uncertainty.”

The research surveyed more than 18,000 people globally, including 1522 people in Australia.

About 65% of Australians expect the environment and climate to worsen by 2025 compared with 63% globally; 70% say financial inequity will deteriorate versus 63% globally; and 59% feel society’s health and wellbeing will decline, above 55% globally.

MetLife says the research sought to uncover and understand themes that will shape consumer behaviour.

“Deeply understanding customers is what’s driven this research,” MetLife Australia chief customer and marketing officer Lina Saliba said. “Our research tells us people are seeking out organisations that offer products and services that address their needs now and in the future.”

The report includes an Australia-focused retirement study that found working Australians aged 40-60 generally feel underprepared for retirement but are open to advice.

About 41% of 1036 working Australians surveyed anticipate retiring after the age of 65; 51% do not have a retirement plan; 69% are concerned about outliving their retirement savings; and 55% have not calculated how much they will need when they leave the workforce.

Click here to download the report.