Trust in science has fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic and is now below 2018 levels, according to the latest findings from the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026.
The report, released on Sunday at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin, is the largest global study on how people think and feel about science.
Across the countries included in all three waves of the study, conducted in 2018, 2020 and 2025, the proportion of people expressing at least some trust in science fell from 77 per cent in 2018 to 72 per cent in 2025.
This follows a rise to 80 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The findings also show sharp differences between countries and demographic groups.
“The steepest declines are among people who feel they are struggling financially,” the study finds.
In 2025, people who felt they were living comfortably were almost twice as likely to report “a lot” of trust in science (39 per cent) as those who felt they were finding it difficult to get by (20 per cent).
Understanding where and why trust is under pressure matters because it affects how people engage with and benefit from science.
The report provided a global evidence base to help researchers, decision-makers and communicators identify where deeper local understanding was needed.
It noted that while trust in science had fallen from its pandemic peak globally, Europe has remained relatively resilient.
The study said Western and Southern Europe were the only regions globally where trust remained above 2018 levels in 2025, while Northern Europe broadly returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The report stated that in Africa, trust declined across all three survey waves, with just 21 per cent of people reporting “a lot” of trust in science in 2025, down from 28 per cent in 2018.
This decline was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of people reporting “not much” trust, rising from 16 per cent in 2018 to 21 per cent in 2025.
It also reflected an increase in the proportion of people reporting “not at all” trust, rising from five per cent in 2018 to nine per cent in 2025.
Country-level findings revealed further differences beneath these regional trends: in South Africa, attitudes toward science were notably divided.
While 51 per cent of people reported at least ‘some’ trust in science, 39 per cent reported “not much” or “not at all” trust.
The study showed that in Kenya, trust in science varied substantially by age: 25 per cent of people aged 15 to 24 said they trusted science “a lot,” compared with just six per cent of those aged 65 and over.
In 2025, 15 per cent of people in Nigeria said they trusted science “a lot”, slightly higher than the 2020 figure of 13 per cent, but still well below the 2018 figure of 26 per cent.
Overall, 57 per cent of people reported at least some trust in science in 2025.
“Attitudes towards vaccination were mixed. Thirty-five per cent said they would get a vaccine recommended by a doctor or nurse straight away, while 36 per cent said they would prefer time to think about it.
“A further 24 per cent said they do not get vaccines at all,” the study said.
The findings also suggest differences in trust across age groups, with younger people more likely than older generations to report high levels of trust in science.
While the findings did not point to a single explanation for changing attitudes, they provided an unparalleled picture of how and where trust is changing over time worldwide.
“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,” said John-Arne Røttingen, CEO, Wellcome.
The report found that trust levels were associated with factors including confidence in public institutions, access to healthcare and education, and whether people felt financially secure.
The findings, based on a survey of more than 140,000 people in 140 countries, also found that the steepest declines were among people who felt they were struggling to get by financially.
(NAN)
