The Most Trusted Media in the World
Chinese media are considered to be most trusted in the world, followed by Indonesian.
Public trust in the media remains an essential foundation for informed societies, especially in an era shaped by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the rapid spread of online information.
According to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, several countries stand out for having the highest levels of public trust in media institutions. These rankings reflect the percentage of respondents who said they trust the media to do what is right.
Leading the global rankings is China, with a media trust score of 81, making it the highest-rated country in the survey. The strong level of confidence suggests that a large majority of Chinese respondents view their media ecosystem as a reliable source of information.
Indonesia ranks second with a score of 76, demonstrating consistently high confidence in its media sector. The result places Indonesia well above the global average and highlights the country's relatively strong public trust in journalism and news organizations.
In third place is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), earning a trust score of 74. The UAE has maintained a favorable perception of its media landscape, supported by ongoing investments in communications and digital media development.
Two African nations, Kenya and Nigeria, share fourth place with identical trust scores of 70. Their rankings illustrate that public confidence in media remains comparatively strong despite the challenges of navigating misinformation and an increasingly complex digital environment.
Thailand follows with a score of 67, reflecting a solid level of trust among its population. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia records a score of 66, indicating that a majority of respondents continue to express confidence in the country's media institutions.
Rounding out the top eight is India, which achieves a trust score of 65. As one of the world's largest and most diverse media markets, India's position demonstrates that media continues to enjoy a positive level of public confidence despite its highly competitive and fast-evolving news environment.
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer surveyed nearly 34,000 respondents across 28 countries to measure trust in four major institutions: business, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and media.
The findings suggest that while trust levels vary significantly around the world, these eight countries stand out for maintaining the strongest public confidence in their media sectors.