Trust in government in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Trust in government was 34.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Trust in government in United Kingdom, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, trust in government in United Kingdom stood at 34.5%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, trust in government in United Kingdom peaked at 43.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 34.5%, in 2024.
That places United Kingdom 34th out of 47 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Trust in government in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 42.5% | — |
| 2010 | 40.0% | -5.9% |
| 2013 | 42.3% | +5.8% |
| 2016 | 43.0% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 40.0% | -7.0% |
| 2022 | 35.7% | -10.8% |
| 2024 | 34.5% | -3.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 34.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 42.8%, 81% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 34.5% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 42.8%, 81% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 42.5% | 42.5% | 42.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 41.3% | 40.0% | 43.0% | 4 |
| 2020s | 35.1% | 34.5% | 35.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More social development data for United Kingdom
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 581,072 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (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 517 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 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 United Kingdom?
- Trust in government in United Kingdom was 34.5% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest trust in government recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 43.0% in 2016.
- What is the lowest trust in government recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.5% in 2024.
- How does United Kingdom rank for trust in government?
- United Kingdom ranks 34th out of 47 countries with data for 2024.
- Is trust in government rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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?"