Wellcome Global Monitor 2026: Trust in science has declined worldwide, but the picture varies sharply by region
Based on surveys of more than 140,000 people in 140 countries, the Wellcome Global Monitor shows that trust in science has fallen since the Covid-19 pandemic and is lowest among people who feel the systems around them are not working for them.
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Trust in science has fallen since the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the world's largest study of public attitudes to science.
The Wellcome Global Monitor 2026, published today, finds that 72% of people trust science 'some' or 'a lot', down from 80% in 2020. The proportion of people who trust science 'not much' or 'not at all' has risen from 13% to 19%.
Scientists remain one of the most trusted groups in society, behind doctors and nurses and ahead of journalists and national governments. But trust in scientists has been the least stable. The share of people who trust scientists 'a lot' rose from 34% in 2018 to 43% in 2020, but has fallen to 32% in 2025, the largest fall for any group measured.
Trust is weakest where people feel they’re struggling to get by
Trust in science is closely linked to people's circumstances and to their experience of the institutions around them.
People who find it difficult to get by on their present income are around half as likely to trust science 'a lot' as those living comfortably (20% compared with 39%). The largest falls in trust since 2018 have been among people who are struggling financially, widening the gap between the two groups from 13 to 19 percentage points.
People with less confidence in national institutions, lower trust in government and higher perceptions of corruption were less likely to trust science. Countries with higher economic inequality tended to have lower trust in science.
Experience of healthcare also matters. Globally, 26% of people trust science 'a lot'. Among those with a lot of confidence in their country's hospitals and health clinics, the figure is 43%.
Public trust shapes whether scientific advances can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. As the world faces increasing challenges, from infectious diseases to climate change and mental health, science has the potential for shaping a healthier future, but only if people trust that it is a force for good. The Wellcome Global Monitor shows us we can’t take that trust for granted.
