Trust in government in South Africa
South Africa: Trust in government was 47.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Trust in government in South Africa, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for trust in government in South Africa is 47.5%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.0% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trust in government in South Africa peaked at 63.0% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 17th out of 47 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Trust in government in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 63.0% | — |
| 2010 | 52.3% | -16.9% |
| 2013 | 52.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 51.7% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 48.0% | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 48.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 47.5% | -1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 47.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 45.0%, 1.1× the median. (9 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 63.0% | 63.0% | 63.0% | 1 |
| 2010s | 51.1% | 48.0% | 52.3% | 4 |
| 2020s | 47.8% | 47.5% | 48.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is trust in government in South Africa?
- Trust in government in South Africa was 47.5% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trust in government recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 63.0% in 2007.
- What is the lowest trust in government recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for trust in government?
- South Africa ranks 17th out of 47 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trust in government rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Trust in government. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of respondents replying "yes" to the question "In this country, do you have confidence in national government, or not?"