Public trust is one of the most important forms of social capital and a measure of the relationship between people and institutions and those in positions of responsibility. The 2026 global survey shows that how professions are viewed by the public is linked to citizens’ perceptions of expertise, effectiveness, honesty and accountability. The reported indicator is “net trust”; therefore, positive and negative figures represent the overall balance of trust in each profession and should not be interpreted as the direct proportion of people who trust it.
A total of 19 occupational groups were surveyed, with their rankings based on this indicator.
Doctors rank first, with a net trust score of 43%. Scientists come second with 42%, followed by teachers with 37%. The narrow gap between the top two positions shows that professions associated with health and knowledge continue to enjoy a high level of public confidence. These three groups are clearly ahead of the other professions.
The armed forces rank fourth, with 16%, followed by personal fitness trainers at 10%, technology entrepreneurs at 6%, and judges at 5%. Police officers also have a net trust score of 5%, placing them level with judges. Lawyers, at zero, occupy the midpoint of the survey, meaning their net trust balance is neither positive nor negative.
At the other end of the assessment are pollsters, with a score of minus 2%, and television news presenters, at minus 3%. Business executives score minus 8%, followed by civil servants and government officials at minus 9%. Journalists and bankers both receive scores of minus 10%, while religious leaders and priests rank next, at minus 11%. Net trust in these groups is slightly below the balance point.
The decline in trust becomes more pronounced towards the bottom of the list. Advertising executives, at minus 26%, government ministers, at minus 37%, and social media influencers, at minus 44%, are among the groups with the lowest net trust scores. Politicians rank last, at minus 48%, recording the lowest net trust of all. The 91-percentage-point gap between doctors and politicians represents a striking divide in public perceptions of these professions.
This difference underscores the importance of people’s experiences in shaping trust. Healthcare, education and scientific work have tangible effects on everyday life, while political and advertising activities may be associated with unfulfilled promises, controversy and public scepticism. However, the figures alone do not establish the reasons for this gap. A more precise explanation would require examining the survey methodology, the participating countries and changes in the results over time.
The results of Ipsos’s survey offer a two-sided picture of public trust in 2026: professions based on expertise and service rank at the top, while those associated with political power and media influence are at the bottom. The survey’s message is that a title or social standing alone does not inspire trust; trust takes shape when people see competence, honesty and accountability demonstrated in practice.
