DAVOS, Jan 20 – India has fallen to third place in the annual Edelman Trust Barometer, which ranks trust in government, businesses, media, and NGOs. The study, released ahead of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, found that the country now trails China and Indonesia, which took the second spot due to an increase in trust scores, while India’s score remained unchanged.
The Edelman Trust Barometer, marking its 25th year, also revealed that India ranks 13th when it comes to global trust in companies headquartered in the country. Canada topped the list, followed by Japan, Germany, the UK, France, and the US, with countries like Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China, and Brazil surpassing India.
Among income groups, the survey showed a stark divide, with low-income populations showing significantly less trust in institutions than their wealthier counterparts. In India, 65% of the low-income population expressed faith in national institutions, compared to 80% among high-income individuals. Among high-income respondents, India ranked fourth globally, behind Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and China.
The survey, which included responses from over 33,000 people across 28 countries, also highlighted a global trend of growing grievances. Economic fears have shifted into broader discontent, with many believing governments and businesses serve narrow interests that harm the public. Notably, violence and disinformation are increasingly seen as legitimate tools for change, with 40% of respondents, especially younger people, approving hostile activism methods such as online attacks, violence, and spreading false information.
Further, the Edelman Trust Barometer pointed out a rising lack of faith in institutional leaders, with 69% of respondents fearing that officials and business leaders intentionally mislead the public. Additionally, confusion over credible news sources has grown, with 63% saying it’s becoming harder to distinguish trustworthy information from deception.
The survey also revealed a significant trust gap between developed and developing nations. Countries like China, Indonesia, and India continued to top the Trust Index, while developed economies, including Japan, Germany, the UK, the US, and France, ranked among the least trusting. Despite a slight decline in trust towards employers, businesses remained the most trusted institution globally.
Edelman CEO Richard Edelman noted that over the past decade, society has shifted from fears to polarization, and now to grievance, with many feeling that the wealthy disproportionately benefit while the majority struggle. The survey underscores widespread dissatisfaction with institutional leaders and growing support for disruptive activism worldwide.
