Health · Public Health & Disease · 20 hrs ago
Global trust in science has fallen since the Covid-era peak, survey finds
A global survey of more than 140,000 adults found that 72% had at least some trust in science in 2025, down from 80% in 2020.
The survey was conducted by Wellcome with Gallup and Ipsos, and also covered attitudes in 2018.
Strong trust fell especially sharply among people who said they were struggling financially.
In 2025, 20% of them said they had a lot of trust in science, compared with 39% of people living comfortably.
The survey found links between trust, confidence in health services and willingness to get vaccines, but it does not show that falling trust caused vaccination rates to decline.
Lower vaccination coverage can leave communities more exposed to outbreaks, including measles.
Wellcome chief executive John-Arne Røttingen said scientists need to do more to explain how science benefits communities.
Global trust in science fell to 72% in 2025, down from 80% in 2020 and 77% in 2018, according to the Wellcome Global Monitor.
The survey covered more than 140,000 adults worldwide.
The steepest decline in strong trust was among people experiencing financial hardship.
The survey found links between trust in science and confidence in healthcare, institutions and vaccination choices, but did not establish what caused trust to fall.
Wellcome chief executive John-Arne Røttingen said the politicisation of science during the pandemic may have contributed to the decline.
- Who
- The Wellcome Global Monitor surveyed more than 140,000 adults worldwide.
- What
- The survey found that trust in science had fallen since its 2020 peak.
- When
- The survey results concern 2025 and compare trust levels with 2020 and 2018.
- Where
- Across countries worldwide.
- Why
- The survey did not establish a cause. Wellcome chief executive John-Arne Røttingen said pandemic-era politicisation may have contributed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Politics has made some of science more political and that has led to the polarisation and maybe a lack of trust
Science is seen as one of those institutions that are not delivering
We haven’t been good enough at explaining and engaging with those groups and those communities on how science is benefiting them
The power of science can only be fully realised if people trust the science and trust the technologies coming from science
77% of people surveyed expressed at least some trust in science.
80% of people surveyed expressed at least some trust in science.
72% of people surveyed expressed at least some trust in science.
- Survey size
- More than 140,000 adults worldwide
- Some trust in science, 2018
- 77%
- Some trust in science, 2020
- 80%
- Some trust in science, 2025
- 72%
- Strong trust among financially comfortable people, 2025
- 39%
- Strong trust among people finding it difficult to get by, 2025
- 20%
Sources
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