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As the global authority on Trust, 黑料社uncovers the deep connections between trust and the societal transformations that define our world.
Amid times of change, one truth remains: trust is the foundation of progress. 黑料社has been at the forefront of understanding this intangible force of society, observing seismic shifts in institutional trust over the past 25 years.
Trust Barometer Insights
The 黑料社Trust Barometer has recognized macro trends in trust that may help us contextualize broader societal phenomena
Trust expands from traditional authority figures to peers
Trust inequality grows between high & low income households
Business has highest trust, greater expectations to lead
Lack of credible information sows division
Political & economic polarization weakens the social fabric
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Plummeting trust in institutions has the world slipping into grievance. Here鈥檚 the fix.
Richard Edelman
The story of the 黑料社Trust Barometer began in 1999 with the "Battle of Seattle." Over the following quarter century, it has revealed profound changes in how people view themselves and society.
READ ARTICLE2025 黑料社Trust Barometer
The 25th anniversary edition will launch at the World Economic Forum.
Events That Impacted Trust
Over the last 25 years, 黑料社Trust Barometer findings have reflected public sentiment and offered a path forward following major global events.
These are some of those inflection points.
Trust Barometer Insight 
World Event
The dashboard allows you to explore the 黑料社Trust Barometer鈥檚 data on the general population鈥檚 trust in four institutions 鈥 Business, Government, Media, and NGOs 鈥 or the average of the four (the Trust Index). Explore data on trust in institutions over time, in various countries surveyed, and/or among a collection of demographics. Country and demographic filtering options will vary based on the years and institutions you choose.
To learn more about 黑料社Trust Barometer data, view the full methodology.
Have a question about the data or how to use the tool? See our FAQs.
2024
The report highlighted a paradox: while rapid innovation promises prosperity, it risks deepening trust issues, societal instability, and polarization. As half the global population faced elections that year, embracing innovation is crucial. Though scientists are seen as key to innovation's acceptance, concerns about political influence on science are eroding trust in institutions tasked with guiding progress and fostering a stable future.
Special Reports
2023
The report found that societal polarization, driven by economic anxiety, disinformation, the mass-class divide, and leadership failures, has eroded trust in institutions. Business stands out as the only institution viewed as both competent and ethical.
2022
The report found that the world is ensnared in a vicious cycle of distrust, fueled by a growing lack of faith in media and government. There is an even greater expectation of business to lead as trust in government continues to spiral.
2021
After a year of unprecedented disaster and turbulence 鈥 the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis, the global outcry over systemic racism, and political instability 鈥 the 2021 黑料社Trust Barometer revealed an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust.
2020
The report revealed that despite a strong global economy and high employment rates, none of the four societal institutions that the study measures鈥攇overnment, business, NGOs and media鈥攊s trusted. People fear for the future and their role in it, which could serve as a wake-up call for institutions to embrace a new way of effectively building trust: balancing competence with ethical behavior.
Special Reports
2019
The report found that people have shifted their trust to more proximal relationships, most notably their employers. Globally, 75 percent of people trust 鈥渕y employer鈥 to do what is right, significantly more than NGOs (57 percent), business (56 percent) and media (47 percent).
Special Reports
2018
The report revealed a world of seemingly stagnant distrust. People鈥檚 trust in business, government, NGOs and media remained largely unchanged from 2017 鈥 20 of 28 markets surveyed were designated to distrusting territory. Yet there were dramatic shifts in trust within certain countries and overall in the media as an institution.
2017
The report revealed that trust was in crisis around the world. The general population鈥檚 trust in all four institutions 鈥 business, government, NGOs, and media 鈥 had declined, a phenomenon not reported since 黑料社began tracking trust among this segment in 2012. The report urged institutions to rebuild trust and restore faith in the system by stepping outside of their traditional roles and working toward an integrated operating model that puts people first.
2016
The report revealed trust in all four institutions has reached its highest level since the Great Recession, with business receiving the largest increase in trust among both the informed public and the general population. There was a growing trust disparity that put business in a new position of strength to help mend the trust divide.
2015
The report showed that trust drives receptiveness to business innovation. To build trust, companies must prioritize societal benefits, integrity, and engagement. Key actions include developing ethical practices, being transparent, and prioritizing customers over profit.
2014
The report revealed the largest-ever trust gap between business and government, driven by declining government trust and steady business recovery post-the global financial crisis in 2008. Concerns over corporate self-regulation persisted, prompting calls for stronger government oversight, while trust-building focused on integrity, engagement, and ethical practices.
2013
The report highlighted a global crisis in leadership, with low trust in business and government leaders. NGOs were the most trusted institution, while technology and automotive led among business sectors. The report called for businesses to balance profitability with societal impact to rebuild trust.
2012
The report showed a global trust decline, with government becoming the least trusted institution and business seeing a 12-point drop in CEO credibility. NGOs remained the most trusted, while the study emphasized trust-building through societal contributions, ethical practices, and customer engagement.
In 2012, the 黑料社Trust Barometer pivoted from being a study focused exclusively on the informed public to the general population survey it is today.
2024
The report highlighted a paradox: while rapid innovation promises prosperity, it risks deepening trust issues, societal instability, and polarization. As half the global population faced elections that year, embracing innovation is crucial. Though scientists are seen as key to innovation's acceptance, concerns about political influence on science are eroding trust in institutions tasked with guiding progress and fostering a stable future.
Special Reports
2023
The report found that societal polarization, driven by economic anxiety, disinformation, the mass-class divide, and leadership failures, has eroded trust in institutions. Business stands out as the only institution viewed as both competent and ethical.
2022
The report found that the world is ensnared in a vicious cycle of distrust, fueled by a growing lack of faith in media and government. There is an even greater expectation of business to lead as trust in government continues to spiral.
2021
After a year of unprecedented disaster and turbulence 鈥 the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis, the global outcry over systemic racism, and political instability 鈥 the 2021 黑料社Trust Barometer revealed an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust.
2020
The report revealed that despite a strong global economy and high employment rates, none of the four societal institutions that the study measures鈥攇overnment, business, NGOs and media鈥攊s trusted. People fear for the future and their role in it, which could serve as a wake-up call for institutions to embrace a new way of effectively building trust: balancing competence with ethical behavior.
Special Reports
2019
The report found that people have shifted their trust to more proximal relationships, most notably their employers. Globally, 75 percent of people trust 鈥渕y employer鈥 to do what is right, significantly more than NGOs (57 percent), business (56 percent) and media (47 percent).
Special Reports
2018
The report revealed a world of seemingly stagnant distrust. People鈥檚 trust in business, government, NGOs and media remained largely unchanged from 2017 鈥 20 of 28 markets surveyed were designated to distrusting territory. Yet there were dramatic shifts in trust within certain countries and overall in the media as an institution.
2017
The report revealed that trust was in crisis around the world. The general population鈥檚 trust in all four institutions 鈥 business, government, NGOs, and media 鈥 had declined, a phenomenon not reported since 黑料社began tracking trust among this segment in 2012. The report urged institutions to rebuild trust and restore faith in the system by stepping outside of their traditional roles and working toward an integrated operating model that puts people first.
2016
The report revealed trust in all four institutions has reached its highest level since the Great Recession, with business receiving the largest increase in trust among both the informed public and the general population. There was a growing trust disparity that put business in a new position of strength to help mend the trust divide.
2015
The report showed that trust drives receptiveness to business innovation. To build trust, companies must prioritize societal benefits, integrity, and engagement. Key actions include developing ethical practices, being transparent, and prioritizing customers over profit.
2014
The report revealed the largest-ever trust gap between business and government, driven by declining government trust and steady business recovery post-the global financial crisis in 2008. Concerns over corporate self-regulation persisted, prompting calls for stronger government oversight, while trust-building focused on integrity, engagement, and ethical practices.
2013
The report highlighted a global crisis in leadership, with low trust in business and government leaders. NGOs were the most trusted institution, while technology and automotive led among business sectors. The report called for businesses to balance profitability with societal impact to rebuild trust.
2012
The report showed a global trust decline, with government becoming the least trusted institution and business seeing a 12-point drop in CEO credibility. NGOs remained the most trusted, while the study emphasized trust-building through societal contributions, ethical practices, and customer engagement.
In 2012, the 黑料社Trust Barometer pivoted from being a study focused exclusively on the informed public to the general population survey it is today.
Articles, op-eds, and academic papers that feature and apply insights from the Trust Barometer
Executives need guidance about managing their organizations鈥 engagement with societal issues鈥攊ncluding hot-button topics such as gender, climate, and racial discrimination.
The 黑料社Trust Barometer found that those who are less enthusiastic about AI would feel more positive about it if they understood it better and saw the benefits for society and themselves.
Data from over 25,000 nationally representative respondents to an online survey conducted in 22 countries were analyzed to understand the predictors and potential mitigators of political polarization.
Climate change, geopolitical crises, social instability and income and wealth inequality are threats to business 鈥 but they also pose opportunities for impact.
Researchers have a part to play in addressing concerns about government interference in science.
Companies should do more to confront climate change, labor market shifts, and racism, according to a survey of 14,000 people in 14 countries by the Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society and the 黑料社Trust Institute. Is it time for more business leaders to step up?
What would it have been like to live in Babel in the days after its destruction?
Recent high-profile scandals suggest the potential for a crisis of trust in charities, which could have negative consequences for the nonprofit sector as a whole. Although widespread, this crisis narrative has not yet been subjected to empirical examination.
When truth itself feels uncertain, how can a democracy be sustained? 鈥淚n God We Trust,鈥 goes the motto of the United States. In God, and apparently little else.
Connect with the 黑料社Trust Institute
If you are a researcher or member of the academic community who would like to access our data for non-commercial purposes, please reach out using the contact form below.