Malaysia Ranked Seventh Most Trusted Country in the World

Malaysia has strengthened its position as one of the world’s most trusted nations, ranking seventh globally in the latest 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer study conducted by Edelman.

According to the report, Malaysia’s overall “Belief Index” rose from 66 in 2025 to 71 this year. The index measures public trust in four key institutions: businesses, government, media, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The study found that trust in all four institutions remained within “trust territory” in Malaysia, a distinction achieved by fewer than half of the 28 countries surveyed.

However, the report also warned that much of the trust Malaysians place in institutions is limited to people within their own political, social, and cultural circles.

The survey revealed that 65% of Malaysians have what researchers described as an “insular trust mindset”, meaning they are less likely to trust people with different values, information sources, or cultural backgrounds.

An even more concerning finding showed that 87% of Malaysians believe mistrust between people with opposing views has intensified to the point where individuals are actively trying to make life harder for one another. This was the highest percentage recorded among all 28 markets surveyed.

Meanwhile, only 37% of respondents said they regularly seek information from sources with different political viewpoints at least once a week.

Malaysia was also found to have a strong “domestic trust advantage”, with local companies enjoying trust levels 18 points higher than foreign firms. Researchers described this trend as a “growing retreat towards the familiar”.

Mazuin Zin, CEO of Edelman Malaysia and senior advisor for Southeast Asia, said Malaysia’s strong trust rankings were a significant achievement tied to economic confidence, institutional credibility, and global standing.

“Malaysia has earned its place as one of the most trusted countries in the world. But the data also points to a deeper challenge,” she said.

“Malaysians place the greatest trust in people who share similar values, information sources, and communities. Malaysia cannot sustain its trust advantage if these divisions continue to deepen.”

The study also highlighted growing global economic anxieties. Around 67% of workers worldwide said they fear losing their jobs due to a possible recession, marking the highest level of concern recorded in the survey.

Another 66% expressed worries that international trade disputes could negatively impact their employment.

Public optimism about the future has also declined in Malaysia. Only 39% of respondents believe the next generation will be better off than the current one, down seven percentage points from last year.

The report further showed widening trust gaps based on income levels. Across the Asia-Pacific region, the trust gap between high-income and low-income groups has widened to 16 points, more than double the level recorded in 2012. In Malaysia, the gap stood at nine points.

Researchers noted that institutions capable of “brokering trust” could help reduce these divides. Globally, lower-income groups were found to trust institutions 18 points more when those organisations actively promoted inclusion and confidence.

Concerns over misinformation were also high among Malaysians. About 73% of respondents said they fear foreign actors are using media platforms to spread false information and create division within the country.

This placed Malaysia as the second-most concerned nation globally on the issue, behind only the United Arab Emirates.

The survey additionally found strong public expectations for institutions to play a greater role in uniting society.

In the Asia-Pacific region, 77% of workers said employers should help build trust between divided groups, although only 54% believed businesses were currently doing so effectively.

Globally, 82% of respondents agreed that promoting a shared identity and culture within organisations is one of the best ways to strengthen unity, while 81% said bringing together people with different values to work toward common goals can help build trust.

In Malaysia, 38% of respondents said businesses would gain the most trust on sensitive social issues by encouraging collaboration rather than taking sides. Another 32% preferred companies to take positions based on their values, while 11% believed businesses should remain silent on such matters.