One of the largest surveys worldwide shows that fewer people trust science than at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Germany ranks near the top.
Trust in science has declined worldwide. This is shown by the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026, for which the British foundation Wellcome Trust surveyed more than 140,000 people in 140 countries. The results were presented at the World Health Summit in Berlin.
A fall to 72 per cent
On average, 72 per cent of respondents said they trusted science at least to some extent. In the previous survey, the figure was still 77 per cent. The peak was 80 per cent in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Trust today is thus back below pre-COVID-19 levels.
Financial situation plays a role
Trust fell particularly sharply among people in financially difficult circumstances. By contrast, those who trust their country’s hospitals and see a personal benefit from research also have more trust in science.
Germany near the top
Together with the United Kingdom, the USA and other European countries, Germany is among the countries with comparatively high trust. The lowest values are in Somalia and Pakistan, where fewer than one in ten people trust science.
Experts at the summit called for doubts to be taken seriously and their causes understood rather than dismissed. The virologist Christian Drosten suggested communicating science more through people who stand for it.
Editorial assessment
The figures are averages across very different countries. The reporting does not provide details of the exact survey methodology.
