Global trust in science has seen a notable decline, falling below pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest Wellcome Global Monitor 2026 report. The comprehensive study, which surveyed over 140,000 people across 140 countries in 2025, indicates a shift in public perception since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trust Levels Drop Globally
The 2026 report shows that 72% of respondents expressed "some" or "a lot" of trust in science, a decrease from 80% in 2020 and 77% in 2018. Conversely, the proportion of individuals reporting "not much" or "not at all" trust in science has risen to 19%, up from 13% in previous surveys. This marks the third wave of the Wellcome Global Monitor, following surveys conducted in 2018 and 2020.
Inequality and Trust
Experts suggest that factors such as poor access to healthcare, limited local influence over research priorities, and unequal distribution of scientific benefits are contributing to the erosion of public confidence. The decline is particularly steep among individuals experiencing financial insecurity, with those struggling to make ends meet being significantly less likely to trust science compared to those living comfortably. Regions like Africa and Western Asia have shown a consistent decline in trust across all survey waves since 2018.
Scientists Remain Trusted, But Volatile
While scientists continue to be more trusted than journalists or national governments, trust in this group has been less stable. The share of people who trust scientists "a lot" fell to 32% in 2025, down from a peak of 43% in 2020. This represents the largest fall in trust for any group measured in the survey. The findings were presented at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining public faith in scientific endeavors amidst global crises.
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