Global Trust in Science Declines Since 2020 Peak
The Wellcome Global Monitor 2026 reveals that public confidence in science has fallen to 72 percent.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Environmental
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According to the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026, global trust in science has decreased to 72 percent in 2025 following a record peak of 80 percent in 2020. The report, which surveyed 140,000 adults across 140 countries, highlights a cooling of public sentiment toward scientific institutions.
Why it matters
The decline is most pronounced among populations facing financial hardship, suggesting that trust wanes where scientific advancements fail to address immediate, lived problems. This indicates a growing gap between scientific output and the tangible needs of vulnerable communities.
The study utilized a multi-round survey methodology to compare findings across 108 countries consistently over three periods since 2018. Trust levels varied significantly, such as in Chile, where sentiment dropped from 81 percent in 2020 to 63 percent in 2025.
The players
Wellcome
This global charitable foundation based in London is dedicated to supporting science to solve urgent health challenges.
The details
Researchers found that public faith in science is not static and often fluctuates based on regional economic stability and local outcomes. In Brazil, for example, trust shifted from 64 percent in 2018 to 76 percent in 2020 before settling at 74 percent in 2025.
Timeline
2018 served as the first year for the Wellcome Global Monitor survey.
2020 marked the global peak of public trust in science at 80 percent.
2025 was the year the survey was conducted among 140,000 global adults.
The Big Picture
This report shifts the scientific paradigm by moving away from the assumption that institutional trust is inherently stable. It disproves the hypothesis that high-level scientific achievements automatically maintain long-term public confidence regardless of local socioeconomic context.
A decrease in public trust in science could impact the adoption of future medical treatments and health guidelines. If populations do not see science as a reliable problem-solving tool, the effectiveness of public health interventions or technological solutions may diminish over time.
The takeaway
Public trust is highly sensitive to the perceived relevance of scientific solutions to personal economic circumstances. Readers should consider how scientific institutions communicate their utility to ensure they remain connected to the communities they serve.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest findings in the Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Scientist.
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