Doctors and Scientists Rank as Most Trusted Professions
The 2026 Global Trustworthiness Index reveals doctors, scientists, and teachers earn the highest levels of public confidence.
Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Social Sciences
Live Poll
Do you generally trust doctors and scientists more than you trust politicians and media figures?
A new Ipsos survey across 32 countries identifies medical and scientific professionals as the most trusted groups globally. Conversely, politicians and social media influencers hold the lowest public trust ratings.
Why it matters
Understanding public confidence in key societal roles highlights significant disparities in professional perception worldwide. These findings illustrate the current hierarchy of credibility among those who influence public policy and opinion.
The survey analyzed responses from 23,530 adults under 75 years of age across 32 countries. Scientists achieved a 56 percent trust rating, while government ministers and journalists received 20 percent and 27 percent respectively.
The players
Ipsos
Ipsos is a multinational market research and consulting firm that provides insights into global trends and public opinion.
The details
Ipsos conducted this comprehensive study using an online survey methodology to gauge how citizens perceive various professions. The resulting index maps a clear divide between those in technical or educational fields and those involved in politics or digital content creation.
Timeline
Ipsos published the 2026 Global Trustworthiness Index in 2026.
The Big Picture
This index follows the long-term trend of expert-based credibility tracked by the Edelman Trust Barometer. The results mark a continued disparity between the high standing of technical professionals and the declining authority of political institutions.
The widespread distrust in political and media figures suggests a challenging environment for those attempting to communicate public health or policy information. Readers should note that reliance on expert-verified information remains the most stable method for navigating professional messaging.
The takeaway
Maintaining trust requires clear expertise and a commitment to verifiable results, as evidenced by the high rankings of scientists and doctors. Individuals should prioritize information sources from these high-trust professions when making personal decisions.
Further reading
Explore more analysis of human behavior and societal trends in the Social Sciences section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Vanguard.
Live Poll
Do you generally trust doctors and scientists more than you trust politicians and media figures?
