Trust in science ‘fell after COVID-19’

What the report says

A new global survey has found that public trust in science has slipped below pre-pandemic levels, according to a news analysis published by The Independent Uganda, citing the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026. The survey covered more than 140,000 people in 140 countries in 2025, with comparisons drawn from 2018, 2020 and 2025. The share of respondents saying they trusted science at least somewhat fell from 77% in 2018 to 72% in 2025, after briefly rising to 80% during the COVID-19 period in 2020.

The report says trust in scientists also weakened over the same period, while the proportion expressing little or no trust increased. It highlights a clear gap between people’s expectations of science and whether they feel its benefits reach them. Confidence was stronger among people who were financially comfortable and those with greater trust in their local health systems.

Researchers and science-policy experts quoted in the article said the survey does not point to a total collapse in confidence, but rather a fragile base of trust shaped by unequal access to healthcare and research benefits. They said this is especially visible in parts of Africa and Western Asia, where some countries face shortages, instability or limited influence over research priorities. The piece argues that rebuilding trust will require locally relevant research, greater transparency and more public engagement, rather than communication alone.