---
title: "World War III and Nuclear Terrorism"
description: "Nearly six-in-ten Americans predict another world war will break out within the next 40 years; 53% foresee a nuclear attack on the U.S. by terrorists."
date: "2010-07-14"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/07/14/world-war-iii-and-nuclear-terrorism/"
---

# World War III and Nuclear Terrorism

Many Americans see a violent future ahead for both the world and the United States in the next 40 years. A majority of the public expects another world war (58% say it definitely or will probably happen) and a major terrorist attack on the U.S. with a nuclear weapon (53%) by the year 2050. While a majority of each age bracket predicts another world war, fully 68% of young adults (ages 18-29) do so, the highest of any age group. Conversely, older Americans are the most likely to predict a terrorist attack with nuclear weapons against the U.S. For both threats, Americans with a high school education or less are more likely than those with more education to predict a violent future. Americans are far less apocalyptic with regard to extraterrestrial threats. While majorities see devastating man-made violence in the future, just 31% believe an asteroid will hit the earth at some time during the next four decades. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1635/future-life-2050-computers-cancer-cure-space-travel-energy-world-war-terroist-jesus-return)