Americans trust science more than peers globally, survey shows

Americans report higher levels of trust in science than populations in most other countries, according to global survey data released on October 10, 2026. The findings from the Wellcome Global Monitor show that 52 percent of people in the United States have a lot of trust in science, compared to a global average of 26 percent.

Wellcome Global Monitor Survey Findings and International Comparisons

The newest edition of the Wellcome Global Monitor was administered as part of the Gallup World Poll through in-person, telephone, and online surveys of more than 140,000 adults across 140 countries. Funded by the British research foundation Wellcome, the survey has previously tracked international public opinion on science in 2018 and 2020. Global findings were weighted to reflect the relative populations of surveyed countries.

In addition to overall trust, the survey measured public sentiment regarding vaccine uptake and the societal benefits of scientific research. Across peer nations, Americans display greater eagerness for vaccination, with 45 percent saying they would want vaccines recommended by a doctor or nurse right away. By comparison, only 28 percent of respondents in Germany reported the same willingness. Furthermore, the share of Americans who agree that science benefits most people in society grew from 48 percent in 2018 to 57 percent in 2025, even as the global average dropped from 42 percent to 37 percent over the same period.

Domestic Divides Over Scientific Value

Despite aggregate high scores, an analysis of the Wellcome data conducted by STAT reveals deep domestic divisions within the United States compared to peer nations. Religion, geography, and education level create sharp fractures in public perception regarding the benefits of science.

Religious Americans show a 24 percentage point gap when compared to non-religious Americans on the question of whether science benefits society. This contrasts with high-income peer nations, which average a mere 5 percentage point gap along religious lines. Similarly, a 19 percentage point divide separates urban and rural Americans on the same issue, whereas the divide across other high-income countries is just 3 points. Education also plays a role, with 71 percent of college graduates reporting that science benefits most people, compared to 47 percent of Americans without four-year degrees.

Matthew Motta, an associate professor at Boston University School of Public Health who studies public opinion research, noted that Americans tend to be more extreme responders to public opinion surveys. For instance, while 13 percent of Americans stated they would not get vaccines at all—compared to 8 percent of Germans—the majority of Germans indicated a preference to take time to think about the decision.

The data also indicates that historically less trusting groups are not necessarily turning away from science. Among self-identified religious Americans, the proportion believing science benefits society rose by four percentage points, moving from 46 percent in 2018 to 50 percent in 2025. Non-college graduates saw a three-percentage-point increase over the same seven-year interval.

Growing Enthusiasm Among Educated and Secular Populations

The widening domestic divide stems from rising enthusiasm among highly educated and secular Americans rather than a general decline among other groups. The Wellcome survey recorded substantial increases in appreciation for science over seven years: a 13-percentage-point rise among college graduates and a 15-percentage-point rise among secular respondents.

At the same time, experts point out that structural inequities limit how science is experienced. Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, which focuses on strengthening public health, explained that many individuals feel left behind because they do not directly observe the benefits of scientific advancements in their daily lives. Geographic disparities compound this issue, as rural residents often travel significant distances for basic hospital care compared to city dwellers near university medical centers.

Trust in science correlates closely with confidence in a nation’s health care infrastructure. The Wellcome survey found that only 40 percent of Americans report a lot of confidence in U.S. hospitals and health clinics, matching figures in Portugal and Uruguay. Political rhetoric from top national officials has also contributed to diverging views, a trend Yotam Ophir, an associate professor of communication at the University at Buffalo, traces from the Tea Party movement of the 2010s through successive presidential administrations.

Strategies for Scientific Communication and Engagement

Researchers and public health advocates emphasize that bridging these divides requires changes in how scientific information is communicated to the public. Rather than relying on lectures or demanding blind trust, scientists must engage communities directly.

What we need to do is be better communicators, not better debaters. We are not going to be able to lecture people into trusting us.

Brian Castrucci

Mark Henderson, Wellcome’s executive director of corporate affairs and engagement, echoed the need for respectful dialogue tailored to local contexts.

Approach people on a level with understanding and engagement and respect, and you’re going to get a better outcome. It’s not rocket science, but it often surprises me how hard people in the scientific community find it to do that.

Mark Henderson