Essential Report
Belief in Conspiracy Theories
Q. Here are some things people have been saying about Covid-19. They’re all things that some people say are true and others say aren’t true. To what extent do you believe each of the following to true or false?
TOTAL:
True |
TOTAL: False | Definitely true | Probably true | Probably false | Definitely false | I don’t know enough to make a decision | |
The outbreak in China is actually much worse than the official Chinese statistics show | 77% | 11% | 33% | 44% | 7% | 4% | 12% |
The Covid-19 virus was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan | 39% | 39% | 14% | 25% | 22% | 17% | 22% |
The number of Covid-19 deaths have been exaggerated by the media and governments to scare the population | 20% | 71% | 7% | 13% | 23% | 48% | 10% |
Bill Gates played a role in the creation and spread of Covid-19 | 13% | 71% | 4% | 9% | 17% | 55% | 15% |
The Covid-19 virus is not dangerous and is being used to force people to get vaccines | 13% | 79% | 4% | 10% | 14% | 65% | 8% |
The 5G wireless network is being used to spread the Covid-19 virus | 12% | 75% | 4% | 8% | 14% | 61% | 13% |
TOTAL: True | Gender | Age Group | ||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | |
The outbreak in China is actually much worse than the official Chinese statistics show | 77% | 79% | 75% | 69% | 75% | 85% |
The Covid-19 virus was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan | 39% | 40% | 39% | 41% | 39% | 37% |
The number of Covid-19 deaths have been exaggerated by the media and governments to scare the population | 20% | 23% | 16% | 30% | 21% | 10% |
Bill Gates played a role in the creation and spread of Covid-19 | 13% | 14% | 13% | 20% | 13% | 8% |
The Covid-19 virus is not dangerous and is being used to force people to get vaccines | 13% | 17% | 10% | 20% | 15% | 6% |
The 5G wireless network is being used to spread the Covid-19 virus | 12% | 15% | 9% | 20% | 13% | 4% |
Base (n) | 1,073 | 524 | 549 | 339 | 349 | 385 |
- There is widespread belief that the outbreak in China is actually much worse than the official Chinese statistics show with three-quarters (77%) believe this to be definitely, or probably true.
- Around the same number of people believe it’s true that the Covid-19 virus was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan as believe it to be false (both 39%).
- Only a small minority believe other conspiracy theories to be true.

COVID-19 RESEARCH
Read Essential's ongoing research on the public response to Covid-19.
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- Preferred Prime Minister
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