Jonathan Cohen of "Billboard" said in his review of the song that "atop a propulsive beat and a thick, three-guitar attack, Vedder personalizes his anger that the U.S. occupation of Iraq has reached the three-year mark." He added, "Rock radio should jump on this despite the delicate subject matter." In E! Online's review of the album the song was described as one that comes "close to recreating the hard rock thrills of the band's billion-selling debut, "Ten"." Michael Endelman of "Entertainment Weekly" said in his review of the song, "It takes some big stones to put out a single as unconventional as "World Wide Suicide"...Not the anthem we'd hoped for, but it's got a primal punk power that gets the pulse racing. A bit." In its review of "Pearl Jam", "The Guardian" pointed out "World Wide Suicide" and stated, "Despite being over 40, musters absolute conviction in writing and singing lyrics of male teenage angst."