Since 2016, every three months, YouGov asks the public in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain what the top two issues from a list of 14 they consider to be the top problems currently facing their country.
This most recent data is from 9-22 June 2026, with this article updated on 27 July 2026
The most important issues facing the United Kingdom
What are the top issues facing the United Kingdom?
Immigration and the economy continue to dominate the list of top issues for Britons, with 38% naming immigration and 37% the economy. Health ranks third, with 20% of Britons identifying it as one of the biggest issues facing the UK.
How have views on the top issues facing the United Kingdom changed?
Concern about terrorism/aggression has fallen from 16% in March to 9% now, largely reversing the increase recorded in the previous wave. Crime has moved in the opposite direction, rising from 9% to 15%.
Concern about health has continued to fall, from 30% in December to 24% in March and 20% now.
The most important issues facing France
What are the top issues facing France?
The economy remains France’s most commonly cited national issue, with 46% of French people naming it as one of the country’s biggest problems. Immigration ranks second at 28%, while health is third on 23%, closely followed by crime on 22%.
How have views on the top issues facing France changed?
Concern about crime has risen from 15% in March to 22% now, putting it almost level with health. Concern about terrorism/aggression has fallen from 14% to 8%.
The most important issues facing Germany
What are the top issues facing Germany?
The economy remains the issue Germans are most likely to describe as a top national issue, on 41%. Immigration ranks second at 25%, closely followed by health at 24%. The rich-poor gap is fourth on 21%.
How have views on the top issues facing Germany changed?
Concern about health has risen sharply, from 13% in March to 24% now, its highest level since December 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has moved health from outside Germany’s top five issues to third place.
Concern about energy supplies has fallen from 16% to 9%, reversing the increase recorded in March.
The most important issues facing Italy
What are the top issues facing Italy?
Health remains Italy’s most commonly cited national issue, with 42% of Italians naming it as one of the country’s biggest problems. The economy ranks second at 30%, while immigration and crime are jointly third on 23%.
How have views on the top issues facing Italy changed?
Concern about health has fallen from 48% in December to 43% in March and 42% now. Concern about terrorism/aggression has fallen from 12% in March to 3%, reversing the increase recorded in the previous wave.
The most important issues facing Spain
What are the top issues facing Spain?
Housing remains by far Spain’s most cited national issue, named by 52% of Spaniards. Immigration ranks second at 31%, while health is third on 27%.
How have views on the top issues facing Spain changed?
While the 52% citing housing as a top issue is similar to the preceding three waves, this figure does represent a new high for the series in Spain.
Concern about energy supplies has fallen from 10% in March to 2%, reversing the increase recorded in the previous wave.
The most important issues facing Denmark
What are the top issues facing Denmark?
No single issue dominates in Denmark. Health ranks first, cited by 26% of Danes, while immigration and the environment are jointly second on 24%. Terrorism follows closely behind on 22%.
How have views on the top issues facing Denmark changed?
Concern about terrorism/aggression has fallen from 35% in September to 22% now. Crime has moved in the opposite direction, rising from 7% to 13% since the previous wave.
How do top national issues differ between European countries?
Immigration is the only issue to rank among the top three in all six countries, although it tops the list only in Britain. Beyond that, national priorities differ considerably. The economy leads in France and Germany, while health ranks first in Italy. Spain stands apart from the other countries, with 52% naming housing as a top issue, compared with 12% in Germany and 7% or fewer elsewhere.
Denmark also has a distinctive profile. The environment is named by 24% of Danes and terrorism/aggression by 22%, substantially higher than in the other five countries. Italy likewise stands out on health, cited by 42% of Italians, compared with between 20% and 27% elsewhere.
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