India has emerged as the most trusting country among 31 nations surveyed in the latest Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Index 2026, highlighting a society that continues to place strong confidence in people, institutions, expertise and innovation. India leads the Ipsos Global Trustworthiness Country Index with a score of +20, ahead of Malaysia (+16), Thailand (+15) and Singapore (+12).
Developed by Ipsos, the Global Trustworthiness Index measures a country’s overall trust climate by subtracting the level of distrust across professions from levels of trust. The higher the net score, the more trusting the society. By this measure, India stands alone at the top of the global rankings.
The study also finds that Indians are more likely than citizens anywhere else in the world to trust one another. More than half (53%) say that ordinary men and women in India are trustworthy, compared to a global average of 34%, reinforcing the strength of interpersonal trust in the country.
Yet the real story lies beneath the headline. The findings reveal a clear hierarchy of trust, with Indians placing their confidence in professions associated with service, expertise, knowledge and innovation.
Trustworthiness: Confidence in Those Who Protect, Educate and Innovate
The Armed Forces and Scientists emerge as India’s most trusted professions, with 68% of Indians saying they are trustworthy. They are followed by Teachers (64%) and Doctors (61%), reflecting the high regard Indians have for professions that contribute directly to national security, social development and public wellbeing.
Trust remains strong for institutions and professions shaping India’s future. More than half of Indians trust Technology Entrepreneurs (52%), while AI Chatbots (51%) rank among the country’s most trusted entities, ahead of Bankers (50%), Judges (49%) and Government Officials/ Civil Servants (47%). The findings suggest that Indians are not only placing their faith in established institutions but are increasingly extending that trust to innovation and technology that deliver tangible value in everyday life.
Notably, India continues to post stronger trust scores than many developed markets across several professions that have faced declining credibility globally, including Lawyers (39%), Television News Anchors (39%), Journalists (38%) and Clergy/Priests (37%).
Untrustworthiness: Politicians Face the Sharpest Trust Deficit
Despite leading the world on trust, Indians are far from uncritical. The research reveals distinct pockets of scepticism, particularly towards politics and public influence.
Almost half of Indians (48%) describe Politicians Generally as untrustworthy, making them the profession facing the greatest trust deficit in the country. They are followed by Government Ministers (43%). Around a third of Indians also view Journalists (35%), Television News Anchors (33%), The Police (33%), Advertising Executives (32%) and Social Media Influencers (32%) as untrustworthy. Lawyers (31%) and Clergy/ Priests (29%) also attract significant scepticism from the public.
The findings mirror a broader global trend. Across all 31 countries surveyed, politicians are the least trusted profession overall. Distrust of politicians is particularly pronounced in parts of Europe, reaching 83% in Romania and 78% in Poland, highlighting the widening confidence gap between citizens and political leadership worldwide.
India Leads the World in Trust in AI
One of the most significant findings from the study is India’s relationship with artificial intelligence.
A majority of Indians (51%) say AI Chatbots are trustworthy, the highest score recorded across all 31 surveyed markets and more than double the global average of 23%. No other country reports comparable levels of trust in AI-powered assistants.
The finding reflects the increasingly important role AI is playing in the lives of Indians. From helping people access information and learn new skills to supporting productivity, creativity and decision-making, AI chatbots are rapidly evolving into trusted digital assistants. While many markets remain cautious about artificial intelligence, India appears to be embracing it as a practical tool that delivers real-world value.
Taken together, the results paint the picture of a country where trust is not distributed indiscriminately, but directed towards those perceived to create value, demonstrate expertise and contribute to progress. Whether it is the Armed Forces protecting the nation, scientists advancing knowledge, teachers shaping future generations or AI helping people navigate everyday challenges, Indians are rewarding competence, contribution and impact with trust.
Elucidating on the findings of the survey, Suresh Ramalingam, CEO, Ipsos India, stated, “India’s position at the top of the Global Trustworthiness Index is ultimately a reflection of where Indians choose to place their faith. The highest levels of trust are reserved for the Armed Forces, scientists, teachers and doctors, professions that represent service, expertise and contribution to society. These findings tell us that trust in India is strongly linked to competence, credibility and the ability to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
“What stands out equally is India’s remarkable openness to innovation. Indians are more likely than citizens in any other country surveyed to trust AI chatbots. This is a powerful indicator of how trust is evolving. People are increasingly placing confidence not only in institutions and professionals, but also in technologies that help them learn, solve problems, access information and improve everyday productivity. India’s trust story is therefore not just about optimism, it is about confidence in progress, whether driven by people or powered by technology,” added Ramalingam.
Methodology: These are the results of a 31-country survey conducted by Ipsos on its Global Advisor online platform, between Friday, June 19, and Friday, July 3, 2026. For this survey, Ipsos interviewed a total of 23,537 adults aged 18 years and older in India, 18-74 in Canada, Republic of Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, Türkiye, and the United States, 20-74 in Thailand, 21-74 in Indonesia and Singapore, and 16-74 in all other countries.
The sample consists of approximately 2,000 in Japan, 1,000 individuals each in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and the U.S., and 500 individuals each in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand, and Türkiye.
Samples in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.S. can be considered representative of their general adult populations under the age of 75.
Samples in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, and Türkiye are more urban, more educated, and/or more affluent than the general population. The survey results for these countries should be viewed as reflecting the views of the more “connected” segment of their population.
