According to the 2016 Travelers Risk Index, the majority of American consumers (56 percent) continue to believe that their world is a riskier place.

In contrast, 41 percent of business leaders believe the world is becoming a riskier place for them. For both groups, cyber risks and financial concerns were top risks they worried about in 2016.

Travelers Cos. worked with Hart Research Associates to survey 1,001 consumers between the ages of 18 and 69 on what worries them most in this changing world. The report breaks out the findings by consumer and business attitudes and highlights where consumers and businesses share similar concerns. See the top 8 biggest threats to businesses.

An interesting find is the top emerging risk over the next five years for consumers. Overall, 57 percent of respondents said global/political conflict (such as terrorism and social unrest) was at the top of their list.

See the chart on the right for the full list of consumers' top emerging risks over the next five years. (Click to enlarge.)

Here are the top five personal risks to consumers, according to the 2016 Travelers Risk Index:

Worry about cyber risks increases with age. (Photo: Shutterstock)

5. Cyber risks

About half of those surveyed (51 percent) see cyber, computer, technology, data breaches and related risks as things they worry about some or a great deal. These concerns fell to fifth place this year, from third place in 2015.

Worry about cyber risks increases with age, ranging from 47 percent of 18- to 39-year-olds, compared with 56 percent of 55- to 69-year-olds. The leading concern in this area is the threat that bank or financial accounts will be hacked, a worry for 62 percent of respondents. Women, at 68 percent, are more concerned about this than men (56 percent).

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans see traffic accidents and car crashes as a top-of-mind worry. (Photo: Shutterstock)

4. Transportation/travel concerns and risks

Concern about travel and transportation risks has increased, moving from sixth in 2015 at 42 percent to fourth in 2016, with 54 percent of Americans worrying some or a great deal about this. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (17 percent) see traffic accidents and car crashes as a top-of-mind worry, says Travelers.

Over 50 percent of respondents indicated they worry some or a great deal about privacy loss and ID theft. (Photo: Shutterstock)

3. Personal privacy loss/identity theft

Personal privacy loss and identity theft come in at third, with about 55 percent of respondents saying they worry some or a great deal about it. Age makes a significant difference in this concern.

Forty-nine percent of 18- to 39-year-olds worry at least some, while at least 60 percent of those in each older subgroup (ages 40 to 54 and 55 to 69) worry some or a great deal about privacy loss and identity theft.

About 6 in 10 Americans say they worry some or a great deal about their personal safety. (Photo: Shutterstock)

2. Personal safety

Personal safety concerns and risks takes second place, moving up from fourth place in 2015. About 6 in 10 Americans (59 percent) say they worry some or a great deal about this risk, with women ahead of men, 64 percent versus 54 percent. Specific concerns included car wrecks (17 percent); crime, such as robbery or home invasion (13 percent); and terrorism (9 percent).

Consumers cite job loss, money problems and the economy among financial issues of concern. (Photo: Shutterstock)

1. Financial concerns

The general category of financial risk continues to be the leading consumer worry, with 70 percent saying they worry some or a great deal about this. Consumers cite job loss, money problems and the economy among issues of concern.

The level of concern decreases with rising income. Of those with household income below $90,000, 74 percent worry some or a great deal about financial risks, compared with 61 percent in households with income above $90,000.

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