Trust in Local Government
Percentage with a great deal/fair amount of trust and confidence in local government to handle local problems.
Why did we include this measure?
Local governments are responsible for many of our most basic necessities, including schools, roads, parks, water, police, and fire protection. Trust in local government is therefore an important signal of the degree to which those needs are being met and of our ability to improve going forward.
How does the US rank globally?
Not available.
National Trend Stable
What do the data show?
Of all the trust measures in this section, local governments have the highest public trust of any institution. Trust in local government has also remained fairly steady with 68‒70% expressing a great deal or fair amount of trust.
What might explain these patterns?
People tend to trust those who are closest to them and people they know. Many citizens see their locally elected leaders face-to-face. When possible, people also tend to move to local communities that they have positive views about and that provide the services that are important to them.
For more information about data sources and treatments, download the Data Notes.