After a year of unprecedented disaster and turbulence – the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis, the global outcry over systemic racism and political instability – the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust.

The 2020 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that despite a strong global economy and near full employment, none of the four societal institutions that the study measures—government, business, NGOs and media—is trusted.

The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that trust has changed profoundly in the past year—people have shifted their trust to the relationships within their control, most notably their employers.

The 2018 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a world of seemingly stagnant distrust.

The 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that trust is in crisis around the world.

The 2016 Edelman Trust Barometer 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 larger general population.

Our 2015 Edelman Trust Barometer study found that countries with higher trust levels overall also show a greater willingness to trust new business innovations.

The 2014 Edelman Trust Barometer is the firm’s 14th annual exploration of trust. We surveyed 33,000 people (27,000 General Public and 6,000 Informed Public respondents) in 27 markets around the world.

The 13th annual Edelman Trust Barometer is our largest exploration of trust, to date, and the largest survey of its kind.

Government is now the least trusted institution–trailing business, media, and NGOs.