World Values Survey

The World Values Survey operates as a global scientific network rather than a commercial product, dedicated to tracking how human beliefs evolve over time. Launched in 1981 by social scientists Ronald Inglehart and Christian Welzel, the project conducts face-to-face interviews with nationally representative samples in nearly 100 countries. These surveys use a standardized questionnaire to gather data on attitudes toward democracy, religion, gender roles, environmental concerns, and subjective well-being.

What makes this initiative unique is its longitudinal depth. The dataset spans eight waves of collection, starting in 1981 and continuing through the present day with Wave 8 running from 2023 to 2026. This timeline allows researchers to observe long-term cultural shifts, such as the transition from survival values to self-expression values, or the changing relationship between economic development and religious faith. The raw data remains publicly available for free, serving as a foundational resource for academics studying political science, sociology, and economics.

Recent years have seen the project expand its analytical reach beyond traditional borders. A major study published in January 2026 in Nature Communications utilized the survey's extensive database to analyze the cultural diversity of religion across 117 countries. Later that year, King's College London announced a new project to investigate how values are shifting across Europe and beyond using the latest findings. While some critics argue the survey sometimes prioritizes narrative over pure objectivity, it remains a cornerstone for understanding global trends in trust, happiness, and social cohesion. [edit]