Brief
Wellcome Global Monitor finds global trust in science fell to 72% in 2025
The third wave of the Wellcome Global Monitor surveyed 140,000 people in 140 countries, revealing a post‑pandemic decline in confidence in science.
By Felo News Desk · Published
According to a new Wellcome Global Monitor report, global trust in science dropped to 72 percent in 2025, down from a pandemic‑era high of 80 percent in 2020.
What happened
The third wave of the survey polled more than 140,000 respondents across 140 countries. Trust levels rose to 80 percent in 2020, driven by the Covid‑19 crisis, but fell to 72 percent by 2025. In 2018, before the pandemic, trust stood at 77 percent.
What the reports add
The Independent notes that people who felt financially worse off or lacked confidence in national health systems were less likely to trust science. Regional breakdowns show only 21 percent of respondents in sub‑Saharan Africa reported “a lot” of trust, compared with 54 percent in Western Europe. In sub‑Saharan Africa, Central Asia and Western Asia, trust fell steadily across the three survey waves. Central Asia saw a gradual shift from “a lot” to “some” trust, while the other two regions saw more respondents moving to “not much” or “not at all” trust.
What was said
John‑Arne Røttingen, CEO of Wellcome, told the Independent, “Public trust shapes whether scientific advances can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.” He added that science can help address infectious diseases, climate change and mental health, but only if it is seen as a force for good.
Dr Aneesa Ahmed, head of programmes at Amref Health Africa, said, “Across Africa, people have lived through a series of major shocks… rising living costs, the lasting impacts of Covid‑19, recurring disease outbreaks and climate change. If families are struggling financially, if clinics lack medicines or staff, or if communities feel excluded from decision‑making, trust can be affected.”
How it came about
The Wellcome Global Monitor is the world’s largest study of public attitudes toward science. Earlier this year, Felo News reported on AI‑driven scientific initiatives at the Kyoto forum, highlighting how emerging technologies are expected to boost public confidence in science. The current decline underscores the challenge of maintaining that confidence amid economic and health pressures.
Key facts
- Global trust in science fell to 72% in 2025, down from 80% in 2020. (independent.co.uk)
- The survey covered 140,000 people in 140 countries. (independent.co.uk)
- Only 21% of respondents in sub‑Saharan Africa reported a lot of trust, versus 54% in Western Europe. (independent.co.uk)
- Financial hardship and low confidence in health systems correlated with lower trust. (independent.co.uk)
- John‑Arne Røttingen, CEO of Wellcome, emphasized the link between public trust and scientific impact. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Global trust in science lower than before Covid pandemic, report finds”
