Wellcome finds trust in science has declined since the pandemic

In 2025, 72% of respondents in a comparable group of countries expressed at least some trust in science, down from 80% in 2020 and 77% in 2018. The figures appear in the new Wellcome Global Monitor report.

Published on October 10, the report draws on responses from more than 140,000 people in 140 countries. Comparisons across its three waves use the 108 countries included in every survey.

Wellcome cautions that China's survey method changed between waves. The country's large population means this affects the global figures. Excluding China makes the trend between 2018 and 2025 look more stable, although strong trust in science has fallen since 2020 with or without China.

The research also found associations between trust, financial circumstances and confidence in healthcare institutions. The survey itself does not establish the causes of the changes. Scientists nevertheless remain more trusted than governments and journalists, Bloomberg reported.