- Scotland demonstrates strong commitment to international cooperation
- Trust in China rising while confidence in the United States falls
- Young people in Scotland the most likely in the UK to cite disinformation as a top global challenge
- One-third cite looking after the vulnerable and reducing inequality as a core global value
- Canada, Japan, Italy, and Brazil rank as most attractive G20 countries
- Young people prioritise peace, global cooperation, poverty reduction, and tackling climate change
- The UK is seen positively for education, civil liberties, and global engagement
TRUST in traditional Western powers is declining among young people in the UK, with a distinctive commitment to social justice emerging in Scotland, according to new British Council research.
The findings, from Global Perceptions 2025, reveal a generation navigating an increasingly multipolar world. Declining trust in the US and rising confidence in China are evident across UK nations. The report findings reveal that young people in Scotland demonstrate a progressive social attitude, with a particular focus on international cooperation.
The research surveyed more than 20,000 people aged 18–34 across 18 G20 nations, including participants in Scotland, to explore perceptions of countries through measures of attractiveness and trust. Attractiveness reflects a country's overall appeal, while trust assesses confidence in its people, government and institutions.
Trust in the United States has declined across most measures in Scotland. Confidence in the American people has fallen from 50 per cent in 2020 to 40 per cent in 2025, while trust in the US government dropped from 42 per cent to 37 per cent. Trust in US institutions has remained flat at 37 per cent.
Meanwhile, trust in China has risen steadily since 2020. In Scotland, confidence in Chinese institutions has increased by 15 percentage points (from 21% to 36%), trust in the government has more than doubled from 14 per cent to 30 per cent, and trust in the Chinese people has grown by 10 points from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. Comparable increases are seen in Northern Ireland and Wales, reflecting a gradual but clear shift in perception across the UK.
Scottish respondents rated Canada (82%), Japan (81%), and Italy and Brazil (both 77%) as the most attractive G20 countries. Among non-G20 nations, Ireland, Egypt and Vietnam received the highest ratings, while Ukraine scored highly on trust, particularly in its people, reflecting admiration for its resilience amid ongoing conflict.
In terms of values, young people in Scotland demonstrated strong support for social justice and international engagement. One-third (33%) prioritised looking after the vulnerable in society and reducing gaps between the rich and poor as a core global value, the highest among UK nations, while 45 per cent ranked equality as their top priority. Fifty-four per cent of respondents in Scotland believed the UK should engage internationally to protect national interests and advance global prosperity, while 34 per cent said the UK should prioritise international cooperation even when it comes ahead of national interest.
Young people in Scotland highlighted the world's most urgent challenges, identifying poverty (67%), climate change (53%), and discrimination (53%) as the issues that matter most, reflecting a generation deeply concerned with social justice and global sustainability. Just behind this is disinformation with 52% of young people in Scotland saying that disinformation is an important global issue, the highest percentage amongst the UK nations.
From the findings, the UK is viewed positively as an open, welcoming, and globally connected nation. Sixty-seven per cent of Scottish respondents felt the UK acts as a force for good in the world, while 66 per cent praised its public services. In education, 64 per cent of respondents said it offers relevant skills and qualifications, while 74 per cent gave a high rate to the UK’s universities and research, the highest among UK nations.
Young people in Scotland also highlighted positive UK traits such as humour (56%, the highest rating among UK nations), friendliness (25%), and good manners (25%), while noting perceived challenges including irresponsible drinking culture (48%), intolerance toward people from other countries (23%), and excessive nationalism (22%).
The findings highlight a generation in Scotland that is outward-looking, socially conscious, and realistic about shifting global influence. While confidence in traditional Western powers has declined, young people remain committed to cooperation, cultural exchange, and shared global values, pointing toward a future defined by connection and collaboration rather than dominance.
Speaking about the findings, Claire de Braekeleer, Director, British Council Scotland, said: "Global Perceptions 2025 reveals that young people in Scotland have a distinctively progressive outlook on global challenges. Their focus on care for the vulnerable, combined with concern about poverty and discrimination, reflects deeply held values of social justice and fairness. What's particularly striking is their willingness to prioritise international cooperation, reflecting a mature, globally engaged perspective. In this shifting and increasingly multipolar world, organisations like the British Council play a vital role in supporting Scotland's confident engagement on the global stage. In many cases we provide young people with some of their first international engagement in education and the arts."
Global Perceptions 2025 is the latest wave of British Council research exploring how young people across the G20 and the UK's nations perceive countries' influence, trustworthiness, and attractiveness. The full report is available at: https://www.britishcouncil.org/global-perceptions-2025
Global Perceptions continues the British Council's work fostering connections, understanding, and trust between the UK and the world through education, arts, and English language teaching. To find out more about British Council's work in Scotland, visit: https://scotland.britishcouncil.org/ or follow on X,
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