* Surveyed by region:
Europe = 48,836
North America = 4,048
Asia = 20,349
Latin America = 12,104
Africa = 6,057
The original question was phrased as follows: "Have you seen false or misleading information about any of the following topics in the past week?".
The source adds the following information: "The average for Africa is only for Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria (English speakers in South Africa and Nigeria)."
Citation formats
Penetration rate of false or misleading news by region and topic in 2022
According to a survey conducted in 2022, the topic on which the population saw the most false or misleading news was COVID-19, especially in North America and Latin America, where the penetration rate of such news approached ** percent. At the opposite end is immigration. In fact, in Asia, less than ** percent of the study participants reported having seen fake news on this subject.
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Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. (July 20, 2022). Percentage of the population that saw false or misleading information on selected topics worldwide in 2022, by region [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 06, 2026, from /statistics/1636925/rate-of-penetration-of-fake-or-misleading-news-by-region-and-topic/
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. "Percentage of the population that saw false or misleading information on selected topics worldwide in 2022, by region." Chart. July 20, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 06, 2026. /statistics/1636925/rate-of-penetration-of-fake-or-misleading-news-by-region-and-topic/
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. (2022). Percentage of the population that saw false or misleading information on selected topics worldwide in 2022, by region. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 06, 2026. /statistics/1636925/rate-of-penetration-of-fake-or-misleading-news-by-region-and-topic/
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. "Percentage of The Population That Saw False or Misleading Information on Selected Topics Worldwide in 2022, by Region." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 20 Jul 2022, /statistics/1636925/rate-of-penetration-of-fake-or-misleading-news-by-region-and-topic/
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Percentage of the population that saw false or misleading information on selected topics worldwide in 2022, by region ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1636925/rate-of-penetration-of-fake-or-misleading-news-by-region-and-topic/ (last visited August 06, 2026)
Percentage of the population that saw false or misleading information on selected topics worldwide in 2022, by region [Graph], Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, July 20, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1636925/rate-of-penetration-of-fake-or-misleading-news-by-region-and-topic/
