FINDING THE HUMAN TRUTHS
The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly shifted our collective fears, concerns and priorities across the
globe. Many officials have referred to it as a war against an invisible enemy.
And, as in all wars, one of the most important, impactful and enduring weapons at our disposal is Truth.
In response, we surveyed people in 18 countries
around the world to get a deeper look into the key Human Truths generated by the current crisis.
We are continually fielding new surveys and
updating the data below, since attitudes are quick
to shift as the pandemic continues.
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©2020 McCANN WORLDGROUP
In The War Against
Coronavirus
Our Methodology
We are interviewing upwards of 16,000 people across 18 markets on a monthly basis and are tracking the changes in data over time in order to maintain an accurate read of the situation as it evolves.
ARGENTINA
INDIA
BRAZIL
COLOMBIA
MEXICO
TURKEY
ITALY
SPAIN
U.S.
CANADA
FRANCE
GERMANY
CHINA
JAPAN
Below is a summary of the waves of research we've conducted and corresponding dates. Due to the rapid nature of COVID-19, we recognize that cultural mentalities and government responses are changing day by day and this data is a snapshot of a moment in time.
Wave 1: 3/12/20 – 3/22/20 | Wave 2: 3/23/20 – 3/31/20 | Wave 3: 4/7/20 – 4/16/20
Wave 4: 4/27/20 – 5/7/20 | Wave 5: 6/8/20 – 6/15/20 | Wave 6: 7/21/20 – 8/3/2020 | Wave 7: 9/15/20 – 9/28/20
U.K.
CHILE
Moving into Recovery
As some countries move closer to containment, the pandemic may cease to be the top concern. At the same time, we
are still deeply in crisis in many other ways. Our Global Pandemic Journey Map tracks the intersection of four crises: health, economic, political and psychological.
The data shows that recovery from the health and psychological crises are not straight lines and that, over
time, levels of worry, anxiety and concern alternate
between periods of calm and of panic.
WAVE 5
SOUTH AFRICA
RUSSIA
MID-JUNE
WAVE 4
Early May
WAVE 3
mid-april
The pandemic journey map
WAVE 5
MID-JUNE
WAVE 5
MID-JUNE
WAVE 4
Early May
WAVE 3
mid-april
WAVE 3
mid-april
WAVE 4
Early May
WAVE 3
mid-april
WAVE 6
early august
WAVE 6
Early august
WAVE 6
early august
Welcome to the Trust Recession
In 2020, the world has come face-to-face with a
catastrophic shortage that threatens our societies at large,
and we’re not only talking about medical equipment.
Across a variety of institutions, from mainstream news media
to politics to our fellow citizens, trust is in a rapid decline. Coronavirus has revealed how easily trust can be broken, and the coming months and years will test how (and if) it can be regained.
WAVE 7
september
WAVE 7
september
WAVE 7
september
Governments and Politicians
Mainstream News Media
Information on Social Media
People from My Own Country
People from Other Countries
Brands and Businesses
People Are Seeing the Glass as Half Full
It goes against human nature to continue to live in a state
of constant negativity and despair. People are rallying around
the first shared glimmers of optimism in months: 57% globally
say things are only going to get better from here.
Click on each glass to see the levels
of optimism in different markets.
U.S.
FRANCE
MEXICO
CHINA
ITALY
GLOBAL
64%
51%
38%
70%
92%
57%
49% of people feel
like things are only going to get worse.
62% of people feel like things are only going to get worse.
36% of people feel like things are only going to get worse.
8% of people feel
like things are only going to get worse.
30% of people feel like things are only going to get worse.
43% of people feel like things are only going to get worse.
Life on Hold
The uncertainty of the economic situation continues to impact our personal lives. With several industries enacting cost-cutting measures due to the pandemic, 30% of people globally have held off on starting a business or changing jobs as a result. As many people enter financial limbo, certain life goals are having to be sacrificed or postponed.
Click on each country for more information.
INDIA
COLOMBIA
U.S.
CHINA
U.K.
CHILE
SOUTH AFRICA
RUSSIA
27%
of Americans have held off buying a house or moving.
37%
of Columbians
have postponed starting a business
or changing jobs.
12%
of Chileans have held off on having a baby.
29%
of Britons have
held off buying a house or moving.
FRANCE
23%
of French people have held off on starting a new relationship.
33%
of South Africans
have postponed starting a business
or changing jobs.
13%
of Russians
have postponed getting married.
13%
of Indians
have postponed getting married.
24%
of Chinese people have postponed starting college.
Click on each prompt to learn more.
Governments and Politicians
Mainstream News Media
Information on Social Media
People from My Own Country
People from Other Countries
Brands and Businesses
50%
24%
34%
61%
67%
66%
U.S.
66%
SOUTH AFRICA
67%
MEXICO
61%
GERMANY
34%
CHINA
24%
GLOBAL
50%
U.S.
SOUTH AFRICA
MEXICO
GERMANY
CHINA
GLOBAL
49%
31%
42%
32%
26%
36%
Brands and Businesses
People from Other Countries
People from My Own Country
Information on Social Media
Mainstream News Media
Governments and Politicians
Click on each category for more information.
Which of the following groups or institutions have you lost trust in during the pandemic?
U.S.
SOUTH AFRICA
MEXICO
GERMANY
CHINA
GLOBAL
50%
66%
34%
67%
61%
24%
50%
66%
34%
67%
61%
24%
36%
49%
32%
31%
42%
26%
43%
52%
39%
45%
45%
34%
Brands and Businesses
People from Other Countries
People from My Own Country
Information on Social Media
Mainstream News Media
Governments and Politicians
Governments and Politicians
52%
45%
45%
39%
34%
43%
42%
28%
44%
25%
25%
33%
13%
16%
13%
27%
57%
25%
18%
14%
18%
23%
23%
19%