Trust in Federal Government
Percentage with a great deal/fair amount of trust and confidence in the federal government to handle domestic and international problems.
Why did we include this measure?
The federal government has important responsibilities, including national defense, economic policy, immigration, environmental resource management, and social insurance and income support programs. The federal government also shapes the actions of state and local governments through laws and program subsidies and shapes interstate commerce through business regulation and transportation infrastructure.
How does the US rank globally?
- Specific Measure: Percentage of the population reporting confidence in the national government.
(Source: Authors’ analysis of Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development data).
- Percentage of countries the US outperforms: 6% (out of 36 countries)
- International Rank Trend: Worsening
National Trend Worsening
What do the data show?
Trust in the federal government has declined from a peak of 60‒70% in the year 2000 to less than 50% in a fairly short period of time—one of the sharpest drops of any measure in this report. We are ranked just below Latvia, South Korea, and Greece. Trust is somewhat higher in international affairs.
What might explain these patterns?
This is a continuation of an old trend that began in the 1960s. When people perceive that things are not going well in the country, as many of the measures in this report suggest, the federal government, and especially the president, are often held responsible.
For more information about data sources and treatments, download the Data Notes.