The likelihood of World War III (WW3) occurring is a subject of significant concern and debate among experts and the public. According to recent surveys and expert assessments:

• Around 40-53% of people in various countries, including the UK and Europe, think it is likely that another world war could happen within the next 5 to 10 years. Many anticipate that such a conflict would involve major powers like the USA, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, with alliances resembling current geopolitical alignments.

• Experts warn of a "period of maximum danger" and assign a 20-30% probability to the outbreak of worldwide warfare in the next few years. Roughly half of respondents in surveys expect nuclear weapons to be used if WW3 occurs, highlighting concerns about the devastating potential of such a conflict.

• Despite these concerns, some analysts emphasize that while the world is closer to a global conflict than in the past, there are still multiple steps away from a full-scale world war comparable to WWI or WWII. The global community continues to prioritize de-escalation, making a nuclear or large-scale global war still unlikely, though the risk is not negligible.

• Current geopolitical tensions involve conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, rising US-China rivalry, and nuclear developments in North Korea and Iran, which contribute to the increased risk perception of WW3. Defence experts note that these tensions have significantly heightened the threat of nuclear conflict in recent months.

In summary, while a sizeable portion of the population and many experts believe the risk of WW3 is real and possibly increasing, especially with the involvement of nuclear arms, it remains a complex and uncertain scenario influenced by ongoing geopolitical developments and international diplomacy efforts. The probability is often estimated in the range of roughly 20-50% over the coming decade, with many hoping deterrence and diplomacy will prevent such an outcome.