India slips to 3rd place on trust barometer; low-income group less trusting than richer counterparts

India ranks third in trust among government, businesses, media, and NGOs, with low-income population less trusting than high-income.

India has slipped one place to third slot when it comes to people's trust in the government, businesses, media and NGOs, while the low-income population is far less trusting than their richer counterparts, a study showed here on Monday (January 20, 2025).

In most countries, including India, the low income population was far less trusting than the high income group.

Within the high income group, India was ranked fourth after Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and China, while the low income population made India the third most trusted nation after China and Indonesia.

However, the percentage of the low income population reposing faith in Indian institutions stood far less at 65%, as against 80% in case of high income people.

The annual Edelman Trust Barometer, now in its 25th year, released before the start of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, also showed that India ranks low at 13th place when it comes to trust of people in other countries, in companies with Indian headquarters.

Canada topped this list of foreign-headquartered companies, followed by Japan, Germany, the UK, France and the US, while those ranked higher than India also included Mexico, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China and Brazil.

The overall list for trust of the general population in the government, businesses, media and NGOs was again topped by China, while Indonesia replaced India for the second spot by virtue of an increased score despite the Indian score remaining unchanged.