Colombia's Crisis of Trust and the Search for a Better Future
Between Distrust and Hope, Colombians Imagine 2046
When Colombians imagine their country in 2046, they do not envision a perfect society. They imagine a nation that is peaceful rather than violent, sustainable rather than destructive, empathetic rather than divided. Above all, they imagine a country where trust—one of Colombia's most depleted resources—has somehow been rebuilt.
That aspiration emerges from Voices for a Worthy Future: Colombia Towards 2046, a national survey conducted by the Social Research Center that collected responses from more than 300 Colombians across the country. Examining institutional trust, social fears, political expectations, perceptions of work, and visions of the future, the findings reveal a striking paradox. Colombians are deeply sceptical of many institutions that govern them, yet they remain remarkably hopeful about their country's long-term potential.
The survey paints a portrait of a society suspended between anxiety and optimism, uncertainty and resilience.
When Colombians imagine their country in 2046, they do not envision a perfect society. They imagine a nation that is peaceful rather than violent, sustainable rather than destructive, empathetic rather than divided. Above all, they imagine a country where trust—one of Colombia's most depleted resources—has somehow been rebuilt.
That aspiration emerges from Voices for a Worthy Future: Colombia Towards 2046, a national survey conducted by the Social Research Center that collected responses from more than 300 Colombians across the country. Examining institutional trust, social fears, political expectations, perceptions of work, and visions of the future, the findings reveal a striking paradox. Colombians are deeply sceptical of many institutions that govern them, yet they remain remarkably hopeful about their country's long-term potential.
The survey paints a portrait of a society suspended between anxiety and optimism, uncertainty and resilience.
The words respondents use to describe the present reveal much about the national mood. "Uncertain" was selected by 59.5 percent of respondents, while "unstable" was chosen by 58.9 percent. "Complex" followed closely at 56.9 percent. Together, these responses suggest a society that perceives itself as navigating a difficult and unpredictable period.
By contrast, Colombians remember the years between 2000 and 2020 somewhat differently. While the period was also considered complex, it was more frequently associated with dynamism, competition, and movement. Many respondents recalled instability, but they also remembered opportunity and progress. The present, by comparison, appears less hopeful and less energetic.
Yet when Colombians describe the future they want, the tone changes dramatically. Nearly nine in ten respondents (89.6 percent) selected "sustainable" as a defining characteristic of their ideal Colombia. More than six in ten (61.9 percent) chose "empathetic," making it the second most desired trait. Dynamic, competitive, and interesting futures also ranked highly.
The message is clear: Colombians do not merely want economic growth. They want a society that is environmentally responsible, socially cohesive, and capable of recognising the dignity of its citizens.
Trust in Knowledge, Distrust in Power
The survey's most revealing findings concern institutional trust.
Among twelve major institutions evaluated, the education system and academia tied for first place, each receiving an average trust score of 3.77 out of 5. Creative industries followed closely at 3.61, with the information technology sector just behind at 3.60.
Community organisations and businesses also performed relatively well, suggesting that Colombians continue to place confidence in local civic action, entrepreneurship, and knowledge-driven sectors.
At the opposite end of the ranking stand Colombia's traditional centres of political power. Parliament received the lowest trust score at just 2.33 out of 5. The judicial system followed at 2.44, while government itself received 2.60.
The gap between the most trusted and least trusted institutions reaches 1.45 points—an unusually large divide that reflects a profound crisis of confidence in formal political authority.
The findings suggest that Colombians increasingly believe solutions will emerge not from politicians but from educators, scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and communities.
This trend is especially visible among younger respondents. Among participants aged 16 to 29, 71.9 percent expressed high trust in the education system, while 70.8 percent expressed high trust in academia and science. The IT sector received an equally strong level of confidence among young people.
For many Colombians, knowledge has become more credible than power.
A Society Searching for Credible Leadership
Distrust in government extends across most demographic groups.
Nearly half of respondents (49.5 percent) rated the government negatively, assigning scores of one or two out of five. Only 26.4 percent expressed positive confidence by awarding scores of four or five.
Yet the data does not suggest complete rejection. Instead, it reveals widespread scepticism toward institutions perceived as ineffective, inconsistent, or disconnected from citizens' concerns.
The contrast between trust in education and distrust in politics is particularly striking. While Parliament and the judiciary struggle to gain legitimacy, schools, universities, and scientific institutions enjoy broad public confidence.
Perhaps most remarkable is the pattern observed in conflict-affected regions. Respondents living in post-conflict territories reported some of the highest levels of trust in education and academia anywhere in the survey, with average ratings of 4.26 and 4.47 respectively.
For communities that have experienced violence and instability firsthand, knowledge appears to represent not only opportunity but also recovery and hope.
The Risks Shaping Colombia's Future
If Colombians disagree about politics, they are remarkably united in identifying the dangers they believe threaten the future.
Economic crises and inequality emerged as the most frequently selected risk, chosen by 64.9 percent of respondents. Climate change and environmental degradation followed closely behind at 58.5 percent.
Geopolitical conflicts ranked third, while declining confidence in institutions and concerns about setbacks in the peace process also featured prominently.
These concerns are not abstract. Nearly half of respondents (47.2 percent) live in territories affected by conflict, post-conflict conditions, or ongoing security risks.
For many Colombians, instability is not a theoretical possibility. It is part of everyday life.
Among younger respondents, climate change emerged as the leading concern, selected by 65.2 percent. Economic crises followed at 60.7 percent, highlighting the dual importance of environmental sustainability and economic security for the next generation.
Technology occupies a more ambiguous position. While artificial intelligence and technological change were identified as risks by roughly one-fifth of respondents, the IT sector remains among the country's most trusted institutions.
Technology is therefore perceived simultaneously as a source of opportunity and uncertainty.
Corruption Remains the Greatest Threat
When respondents were asked open-ended questions about Colombia's future, one theme appeared more frequently than any other: corruption.
Corruption was the single most frequently mentioned danger facing the country, followed by violence, armed groups, poor governance, and political polarisation.
The prominence of corruption reflects a deeper frustration with institutional performance and accountability. Many respondents associated corruption not simply with financial misconduct but with broader failures of leadership, transparency, and public trust.
For citizens living in conflict-affected areas, concerns about governance are often inseparable from concerns about peace, justice, and security.
The survey suggests that Colombians view corruption not merely as a political problem but as a barrier to national development itself.
Living with Uncertainty
Perhaps no finding captures the national mood more clearly than the emotional responses.
Uncertainty was the most common emotion associated with Colombia's future, accounting for nearly 30 percent of responses. Hope ranked second at just over 17 percent.
When uncertainty is combined with fear, anxiety, and concern, negative emotions account for almost half of all responses.
Yet despair does not dominate.
Hope remains one of the strongest emotional currents running through the survey. Many respondents simultaneously acknowledge Colombia's challenges while expressing confidence in the country's long-term potential.
This coexistence of anxiety and optimism may be one of the defining characteristics of contemporary Colombian society.
Citizens worry about the future, but they have not surrendered to it.
Why Education Has Become Colombia's Institutional Beacon
If one institution emerges as Colombia's most trusted pathway toward a better future, it is education.
The education system and academia occupy the highest positions in the trust rankings. Respondents repeatedly associated education with opportunity, responsibility, innovation, social mobility, and environmental awareness.
When asked how future risks should be addressed, 46.2 percent of all respondents supported the creation of a new educational system. Among younger respondents, support rose to 51.7 percent.
Although educational reform was not the most frequently selected solution overall, it remained one of the most widely supported responses and significantly outperformed proposals such as total digitalisation or individual self-education.
The findings suggest that many Colombians increasingly see schools, universities, and research institutions as foundations for long-term national development.
In a country where trust in politics remains scarce, education has become an institutional beacon.
The Future of Work: Between AI and Human Connection
Colombians expect profound changes in the world of work by 2046.
The most commonly selected scenario was one in which technology takes over routine tasks, chosen by 39.5 percent of respondents. Close behind were visions of more collective and community-oriented work (36.8 percent) and existing jobs continuing under artificial intelligence supervision (35.8 percent).
The near tie between these scenarios is revealing.
Colombians do not imagine the future solely as a story of automation. They also envision stronger forms of collaboration and collective action.
Many respondents expect remote work to become widespread, while a growing number see environmental restoration becoming part of their professional future.
At the same time, nearly one in ten respondents believe their professional group may become obsolete altogether.
The future of work is expected to be greener, more digital, and more uncertain—but not necessarily less human.
Staying and Building
Despite widespread dissatisfaction with institutions, Colombians have not given up on the country itself.
Nearly 62 percent imagine their future in Colombia, with stable employment and home ownership. Only 5 percent plan to emigrate permanently.
The finding challenges a common assumption that migration is the preferred route to a better life.
Most respondents do not want to leave.
They want Colombia to work.
The survey repeatedly points toward a distinction between distrust in institutions and belief in society. Colombians may be frustrated with government performance, but they continue to place confidence in communities, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and ordinary citizens.
When asked about Colombia's greatest resource, respondents most frequently pointed to people themselves—their talent, resilience, creativity, and capacity for hard work.
Biodiversity, education, and culture followed behind.
Notably, nearly 28 percent of participants identified themselves as entrepreneurs, reinforcing a broader belief that transformation will come from initiative and collective effort rather than from the state alone.
A Search for Reasons to Believe
Taken together, the survey paints a portrait of a nation searching for confidence.
Colombians worry about corruption, inequality, climate change, institutional weakness, and the possibility of renewed violence. They describe the present as uncertain, unstable, and complex. They place relatively little trust in many of the institutions that exercise political power.
Yet they continue to believe in education, science, entrepreneurship, creativity, and civic action. They imagine a future that is sustainable, prosperous, peaceful, and empathetic. They see their greatest strength not in natural resources or political institutions, but in people themselves.
The challenge facing Colombia is therefore not a lack of vision.
It is a lack of trust.
Until institutions can close the credibility gap separating them from schools, universities, scientific communities, and local organisations, Colombia's future will remain suspended between hope and doubt.
Yet the survey also offers a powerful reminder. Despite corruption scandals, political frustration, economic uncertainty, and fears about the future, most Colombians have not stopped believing in the possibility of a better country.
They are not looking for an escape.
They are looking for reasons to believe.
By contrast, Colombians remember the years between 2000 and 2020 somewhat differently. While the period was also considered complex, it was more frequently associated with dynamism, competition, and movement. Many respondents recalled instability, but they also remembered opportunity and progress. The present, by comparison, appears less hopeful and less energetic.
Yet when Colombians describe the future they want, the tone changes dramatically. Nearly nine in ten respondents (89.6 percent) selected "sustainable" as a defining characteristic of their ideal Colombia. More than six in ten (61.9 percent) chose "empathetic," making it the second most desired trait. Dynamic, competitive, and interesting futures also ranked highly.
The message is clear: Colombians do not merely want economic growth. They want a society that is environmentally responsible, socially cohesive, and capable of recognising the dignity of its citizens.
Trust in Knowledge, Distrust in Power
The survey's most revealing findings concern institutional trust.
Among twelve major institutions evaluated, the education system and academia tied for first place, each receiving an average trust score of 3.77 out of 5. Creative industries followed closely at 3.61, with the information technology sector just behind at 3.60.
Community organisations and businesses also performed relatively well, suggesting that Colombians continue to place confidence in local civic action, entrepreneurship, and knowledge-driven sectors.
At the opposite end of the ranking stand Colombia's traditional centres of political power. Parliament received the lowest trust score at just 2.33 out of 5. The judicial system followed at 2.44, while government itself received 2.60.
The gap between the most trusted and least trusted institutions reaches 1.45 points—an unusually large divide that reflects a profound crisis of confidence in formal political authority.
The findings suggest that Colombians increasingly believe solutions will emerge not from politicians but from educators, scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and communities.
This trend is especially visible among younger respondents. Among participants aged 16 to 29, 71.9 percent expressed high trust in the education system, while 70.8 percent expressed high trust in academia and science. The IT sector received an equally strong level of confidence among young people.
For many Colombians, knowledge has become more credible than power.
A Society Searching for Credible Leadership
Distrust in government extends across most demographic groups.
Nearly half of respondents (49.5 percent) rated the government negatively, assigning scores of one or two out of five. Only 26.4 percent expressed positive confidence by awarding scores of four or five.
Yet the data does not suggest complete rejection. Instead, it reveals widespread scepticism toward institutions perceived as ineffective, inconsistent, or disconnected from citizens' concerns.
The contrast between trust in education and distrust in politics is particularly striking. While Parliament and the judiciary struggle to gain legitimacy, schools, universities, and scientific institutions enjoy broad public confidence.
Perhaps most remarkable is the pattern observed in conflict-affected regions. Respondents living in post-conflict territories reported some of the highest levels of trust in education and academia anywhere in the survey, with average ratings of 4.26 and 4.47 respectively.
For communities that have experienced violence and instability firsthand, knowledge appears to represent not only opportunity but also recovery and hope.
The Risks Shaping Colombia's Future
If Colombians disagree about politics, they are remarkably united in identifying the dangers they believe threaten the future.
Economic crises and inequality emerged as the most frequently selected risk, chosen by 64.9 percent of respondents. Climate change and environmental degradation followed closely behind at 58.5 percent.
Geopolitical conflicts ranked third, while declining confidence in institutions and concerns about setbacks in the peace process also featured prominently.
These concerns are not abstract. Nearly half of respondents (47.2 percent) live in territories affected by conflict, post-conflict conditions, or ongoing security risks.
For many Colombians, instability is not a theoretical possibility. It is part of everyday life.
Among younger respondents, climate change emerged as the leading concern, selected by 65.2 percent. Economic crises followed at 60.7 percent, highlighting the dual importance of environmental sustainability and economic security for the next generation.
Technology occupies a more ambiguous position. While artificial intelligence and technological change were identified as risks by roughly one-fifth of respondents, the IT sector remains among the country's most trusted institutions.
Technology is therefore perceived simultaneously as a source of opportunity and uncertainty.
Corruption Remains the Greatest Threat
When respondents were asked open-ended questions about Colombia's future, one theme appeared more frequently than any other: corruption.
Corruption was the single most frequently mentioned danger facing the country, followed by violence, armed groups, poor governance, and political polarisation.
The prominence of corruption reflects a deeper frustration with institutional performance and accountability. Many respondents associated corruption not simply with financial misconduct but with broader failures of leadership, transparency, and public trust.
For citizens living in conflict-affected areas, concerns about governance are often inseparable from concerns about peace, justice, and security.
The survey suggests that Colombians view corruption not merely as a political problem but as a barrier to national development itself.
Living with Uncertainty
Perhaps no finding captures the national mood more clearly than the emotional responses.
Uncertainty was the most common emotion associated with Colombia's future, accounting for nearly 30 percent of responses. Hope ranked second at just over 17 percent.
When uncertainty is combined with fear, anxiety, and concern, negative emotions account for almost half of all responses.
Yet despair does not dominate.
Hope remains one of the strongest emotional currents running through the survey. Many respondents simultaneously acknowledge Colombia's challenges while expressing confidence in the country's long-term potential.
This coexistence of anxiety and optimism may be one of the defining characteristics of contemporary Colombian society.
Citizens worry about the future, but they have not surrendered to it.
Why Education Has Become Colombia's Institutional Beacon
If one institution emerges as Colombia's most trusted pathway toward a better future, it is education.
The education system and academia occupy the highest positions in the trust rankings. Respondents repeatedly associated education with opportunity, responsibility, innovation, social mobility, and environmental awareness.
When asked how future risks should be addressed, 46.2 percent of all respondents supported the creation of a new educational system. Among younger respondents, support rose to 51.7 percent.
Although educational reform was not the most frequently selected solution overall, it remained one of the most widely supported responses and significantly outperformed proposals such as total digitalisation or individual self-education.
The findings suggest that many Colombians increasingly see schools, universities, and research institutions as foundations for long-term national development.
In a country where trust in politics remains scarce, education has become an institutional beacon.
The Future of Work: Between AI and Human Connection
Colombians expect profound changes in the world of work by 2046.
The most commonly selected scenario was one in which technology takes over routine tasks, chosen by 39.5 percent of respondents. Close behind were visions of more collective and community-oriented work (36.8 percent) and existing jobs continuing under artificial intelligence supervision (35.8 percent).
The near tie between these scenarios is revealing.
Colombians do not imagine the future solely as a story of automation. They also envision stronger forms of collaboration and collective action.
Many respondents expect remote work to become widespread, while a growing number see environmental restoration becoming part of their professional future.
At the same time, nearly one in ten respondents believe their professional group may become obsolete altogether.
The future of work is expected to be greener, more digital, and more uncertain—but not necessarily less human.
Staying and Building
Despite widespread dissatisfaction with institutions, Colombians have not given up on the country itself.
Nearly 62 percent imagine their future in Colombia, with stable employment and home ownership. Only 5 percent plan to emigrate permanently.
The finding challenges a common assumption that migration is the preferred route to a better life.
Most respondents do not want to leave.
They want Colombia to work.
The survey repeatedly points toward a distinction between distrust in institutions and belief in society. Colombians may be frustrated with government performance, but they continue to place confidence in communities, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, and ordinary citizens.
When asked about Colombia's greatest resource, respondents most frequently pointed to people themselves—their talent, resilience, creativity, and capacity for hard work.
Biodiversity, education, and culture followed behind.
Notably, nearly 28 percent of participants identified themselves as entrepreneurs, reinforcing a broader belief that transformation will come from initiative and collective effort rather than from the state alone.
A Search for Reasons to Believe
Taken together, the survey paints a portrait of a nation searching for confidence.
Colombians worry about corruption, inequality, climate change, institutional weakness, and the possibility of renewed violence. They describe the present as uncertain, unstable, and complex. They place relatively little trust in many of the institutions that exercise political power.
Yet they continue to believe in education, science, entrepreneurship, creativity, and civic action. They imagine a future that is sustainable, prosperous, peaceful, and empathetic. They see their greatest strength not in natural resources or political institutions, but in people themselves.
The challenge facing Colombia is therefore not a lack of vision.
It is a lack of trust.
Until institutions can close the credibility gap separating them from schools, universities, scientific communities, and local organisations, Colombia's future will remain suspended between hope and doubt.
Yet the survey also offers a powerful reminder. Despite corruption scandals, political frustration, economic uncertainty, and fears about the future, most Colombians have not stopped believing in the possibility of a better country.
They are not looking for an escape.
They are looking for reasons to believe.
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