The five perspectives that will shape 2026 according to Suramericana
● The company identifies key signals regarding governance, the economy, and social welfare, technology, and the environment will shape the course of this year.
● Increased institutional pressure, challenges to economic growth, transformation accelerated labor market, new digital vulnerabilities, and the advancement of The climate crisis defines a highly complex environment for the region.
Medellín, January 2026 — The convergence of interdependent risks and the acceleration of change will be critical factors for Latin America in 2026. According to Suramericana's "Perspectives 2026" analysis, in its role as a Trends and Risks Manager, five forces will influence the decision-making of governments, businesses, and citizens next year, where political fragility, challenges to economic growth, social pressures, technological threats, and the climate crisis will feed off each other, demanding a radical shift toward anticipatory management.. These are five dimensions that include political, economic, social, technological and environmental dynamics which are taking shape simultaneously and which explain the growing uncertainty of the regional environment.
These signs point to a year where risks will be more interdependent, the speed of change will increase, and decisions by governments and organizations will need to focus on anticipation.
"Today, risks converge, amplify, and require new anticipation capabilities. This analysis seeks to provide clarity in a challenging environment, where resilience and Risk management will be essential for well-being and competitiveness. Therefore, Understanding these forces and preparing for them is fundamental to protecting the well-being, competitiveness and sustainability”, he claimed Juana Francisca Llano, president of South America.
1. Politics: governance under tension and growing risks to institutions
The region enters 2026 facing increasing pressure on political stability. Risks associated with corruption and fiscal weakness persist, limiting public trust and the state's capacity to respond. Furthermore, democratic skepticism is on the rise: according to the 2024 Latinobarometer, only 52% of people consider democracy the best form of government. This situation is exacerbated by the consolidation of disinformation as a structural risk, especially in a year marked by more than a dozen electoral processes that will test governance in Latin America and the world.
2. Economy: low growth, fiscal constraints and adjustments in global tradel
Economic indicators point to a 2026 of low growth and increased fiscal demands. The region faces a prolonged period of reduced economic activity and smaller margins for investment. The International Monetary Fund projects global growth of around 3,1%, confirming a moderate economic outlook. Added to this are pressures on global value chains and structural gaps that require strengthening productivity, infrastructure, and technological capabilities. Businesses and governments will need to adapt to a more challenging financial environment, with strategic decisions increasingly sensitive to the global situation.
3. Social: welfare systems under pressure and accelerated transformation of employment
Social welfare faces increasing pressures stemming from informality, aging populations, and inequalities in access to education and healthcare. Social protection systems remain inadequate to keep pace with the speed of demographic and labor market changes. Mental health is emerging as a priority challenge: the World Health Organization estimates that anxiety and depression result in billions of lost workdays annually worldwide. At the same time, digitalization and automation are reshaping roles and tasks, demanding new skills and greater coordination among governments, businesses, and education systems.
4. Technology: more digitization, greater AI autonomy, and growing risks in ciberseguridad
Technological acceleration will continue to transform production and social environments. Dependence on critical digital infrastructure and the growing volume of data are increasing system vulnerabilities. Artificial intelligence will take a leap in autonomy, with systems capable of performing complex tasks across multiple industries. However, threats are also evolving: ENISA reports that cyberattacks against industrial infrastructure increased by 140% between 2022 and 2025, revealing the urgent need to strengthen digital resilience, adopt Zero Trust architectures, and bolster technology governance.
5. Environmental: a critical year marked by water stress and more extreme weather events ends
The environmental dimension will be a determining factor in 2026. Extreme weather events continue to intensify, increasing risks to infrastructure, agriculture, and cities. The World Meteorological Organization confirms that the planet has already warmed by 1,1°C compared to pre-industrial levels, leading to increased droughts, floods, and wildfires. Latin America faces growing water stress and accelerating pressure on its ecosystems. Cities are positioning themselves as key players in climate action, while global standards such as ISSB and TNFD will increase the demands on environmental disclosure and energy transition strategies.
"These projections for 2026 demonstrate that no force acts in isolation. Political, economic, social, technological, and environmental factors influence each other and They require more coordinated and conscious decisions. Recognizing that interdependence is essential for acting proactively and building resilience“,” Llano concluded.
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About Suramericana:
With eight decades of experience, Suramericana SA is a company specialized in the insurance industry and in the management of trends and risks. It is a subsidiary of Grupo SURA (81.1%) and also has the support of the German reinsurer Munich Re (18.9%) as a shareholder. The company is a multi-solution, multi-channel, and multi-segment platform with operations in Latin America, where it seeks to deliver sustainable well-being and competitiveness to each of its clients, both individuals and businesses.
Press contact
Catalina Acebedo
(+57) 304 3732999
cacebedo@sura.com.co