Malta and the Maltese have been shown to have the most confidence in charities and non-governmental organisations, according to a survey conducted by Gallup.
Malta topped the global list - for which more than 144,000 people across 140 countries were surveyed - with 79% reporting they express trust in these organizations. Only 11 % of Maltese answered in the negative and 10% said they did not know.
No other EU member states features in the global top ten. Luxemburg is the next EU member state holding faith in charities and NGOs, in 23rd place.
Rwanda ranked second (76%), while Iceland (75%) and Mauritius (75%) tied at third place.
The Philippines and Uzbekistan were followed by New Zealand (70%), United Arab Emirates (70%), Kosovo (70%) and Sierra Leone (69%).
Bulgaria (24%), meanwhile, topped the list of countries with the least people reporting confidence. It was followed by Greece (25%), Colombia (28%), Peru (29%), Russia (29%) and Laos (29%).
The other countries included on the list of least confident countries were South Korea (31%), Germany (31%), Ecuador (32%) and Dominican Republic (32%).
Globally, one in three worldwide lack confidence in NGOs.
As part of its first-ever truly global study of public attitudes on science and health, Gallup and Wellcome asked people worldwide about their confidence in charitable and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). A slim majority of the world's adults (52%) express confidence in the charitable organizations and NGOs in their respective countries. However, 32% tell Gallup they do not have confidence in such organizations, many of whom deliver vital services in the countries where they operate.
Confidence varies little by economic development
Confidence in charitable and nongovernmental organisations varies little by World Bank-defined levels of economic development. People living in low-income countries express slightly more confidence (57%) in such organizations than both the global average and those living in high-income countries (52%).
In many countries, charitable organizations and NGOs play a key role in society by providing goods, services or information. The trust that people have in these organizations can either enhance or inhibit the organizations' effectiveness and their ability to generate public goods. As such, charities and NGOs need to keep this trust in mind as it directly affects the spheres and activities they can undertake within societies.
In addition to these views on charitable organizations and NGOs, the Wellcome Global Monitor also provides new data and insights from around the globe on the public's trust in science, trust in sources of information about public health, trust in vaccines and more.