The World’s Most Influential Values: What Do We CARE About The MOST?

Our basic values can inform ideals, interests, political preferences, environmental views, and even career choices. Neuroscientists, psychologists, and sociologists all agree that our values determine everything we do.

The thing is, some values are constantly important everywhere on the planet, while others vary.

Studies show that these 56 values are ones that drive human behavior and of them, the top ten that are shared between cultures are family, relationships, financial security, belonging, community, personal growth, loyalty, religion/spirituality, employment security, and personal responsibility.

Let’s take a closer look at how these selected values differ in rank between regions. Regions include Africa, Central/South America, North America, Middle East, Europe, China, the rest of Asia, and Pacific/Oceania respectively.

#1 Family

5/9 regions rank family as their highest core value. And while it’s not that surprising that family emerges as the most important value globally, it’s interesting to note that a number of many other values that show “connectedness” — like relationships and belonging — also emerge in the top 10.

#2 Community

Both Africa and Central/South America place higher importance on Community, another value that relates to a sense of belonging.

#3 Loyalty

Across Asia-Pacific, Loyalty is ranked high following just after financial security. Really makes you think.

#4 Freedom of Speech

The World average for Freedom of Speech, the power to voice one’s opinion without the fear or penalty, hovers close to the bottom. However, it’s held with greater consideration in both North America and the Middle East.

#5 Respect

This value is ranked much higher in both Africa and Central/South America.

#6 Authority

China falls close behind North America and the Middle East in its ranking of Authority. Both of the latter regions rank this value at 17…