Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer finds growing reluctance to engage with people holding different views, particularly in advanced economies.

Public trust is becoming increasingly fragmented, with growing numbers of people reluctant to engage with those who hold different views, according to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer.

The annual survey found that around seven in ten respondents globally are unwilling or hesitant to trust people with different values or sources of information. The trend is most pronounced in advanced economies, including Japan and Germany, and is above the global average in the UK, Canada and the US.

The research suggests the shift is being driven by economic insecurity and declining optimism. Two-thirds of employees said they were worried that trade policies and tariffs could harm their employer, while a majority of low-income respondents believe they will not benefit from the spread of generative artificial intelligence. Only 32 per cent of those surveyed expect the next generation to be better off than the current one.

Confidence in institutions continues to diverge along income lines, with lower-income respondents consistently rating institutions as less ethical and competent than higher earners. Business remains the only institution seen globally as both competent and ethical, a position it has held since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The findings also point to rising economic nationalism. Trust in domestically headquartered companies is significantly higher than trust in foreign businesses, particularly in Canada, Japan and Germany. More than a third of respondents said they would prefer fewer foreign companies operating in their home market, even if that led to higher prices or reduced consumer choice.

At the same time, trust is increasingly concentrated at a local level. Respondents expressed higher confidence in employers and community figures than in governments or media. The survey suggests employers, and particularly chief executives, are now expected to play a more active role in bridging social and political divides.

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer is based on nearly 34,000 online interviews conducted in 28 countries between October and November 2025.