2025 Edelman Trust Barometer
Spoiler alert: people are fed up
[3 minute read]
THE GRIEVANCE IS REAL
The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer was released this week. This is an annual survey conducted by the Edelman Trust Institute, polling 32,000 people across 28 countries (see below) to assess global trust in institutions and shifts in societal attitudes over time.
I know this sounds boring, but don’t worry, I broke it into little bites and used orange highlighter.
SCARY TAKEAWAY
61% of global respondents report a moderate or high sense of grievance-
A belief that governments and businesses make their lives harder while serving narrow interests
And wealthy people unfairly benefit from the system
Thus...
40% of total respondents (and 53% of people age 18-34) see hostile activism as a viable means to drive change — attacking people online, intentionally spreading disinformation, threatening or committing violence, damaging public or private property, etc.
MORE INTERESTING STATS
Poor people are more distrustful than wealthy people but distrust has increased for everyone since 2012
65% of respondents believe wealthy people cause many of the world’s problems and fail to pay their fair share of taxes
52% of people distrust the media (42% in the U.S.) — but notice the countries where people “trust” the media — China, India, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia...
Roughly 70% of people believe that journalists, government officials, and CEOs lie on a regular basis
People trust businesses more than governments, NGO’s, and media
Sadly, this report is not very hopeful — only 36% of people believe the next generation will be better off (and only 30% of U.S. respondents)
SUMMARY
The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a sharp decline in public trust across major institutions, fueling a society increasingly defined by grievances
Trust in institutions has diminished, with many people feeling that these entities no longer serve their interests
Economic anxieties, such as fears of job loss due to automation and concerns over inflation, have intensified public grievances
A significant portion of the population believes that the system is unfair, with the rich getting richer while regular people struggle
Nearly 2/3 of respondents find it challenging to differentiate between reliable news and disinformation, exacerbating societal divisions
The high levels of discontent help explain why many international voters have opted for populist candidates in recent elections
Conducting a survey like this may not be highly scientific, but it’s undeniably eye-opening. The 2025 results speak for themselves: people are fed up and eager for change.
Maybe things will be better next year.
"It's rich people vs. poor people and right now poor people are getting screwed and I feel bad for those people, plain and simple."
-Charles Barkley
IF IT’S NOT COOL, JUST ADD ICE!