Global science confidence dips as pandemic-era trust erodes

Trust in science across multiple countries has fallen to its lowest level in recent years, according to a global survey tracking public confidence over nearly a decade. The proportion of people expressing at least some confidence in science declined to 72% in 2025, representing a notable shift from the 80% recorded in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 crisis and down from 77% in 2018 before the pandemic began.

The data underscores a complex reversal in public sentiment. While the initial pandemic years saw elevated confidence in scientific authority as nations looked to researchers for guidance on vaccines and treatments, sustained exposure to scientific debates and differing expert opinions appears to have eroded that goodwill. The eight-point drop from 2020 to 2025 suggests the boost in science trust during the pandemic emergency was largely temporary.

The survey's longitudinal approach, capturing attitudes before, during, and after the pandemic across comparable populations, provides rare insight into how major global crises reshape institutional confidence. Researchers and policymakers are now grappling with the implications of diminished public faith at a time when scientific expertise remains central to addressing climate change, public health threats, and technological challenges.

The findings highlight growing challenges for scientific communication and institutional credibility. Experts point to factors including misinformation spread during the pandemic, polarization over public health measures, and perceived inconsistencies in official guidance as potential contributors to declining confidence. Rebuilding trust, analysts suggest, will require renewed focus on transparent communication and addressing public concerns about the independence and integrity of scientific institutions.