Share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be in United States
United States: Share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be was 37.0% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" in United States, 1984–2022
Source: Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" in United States is 37.0%, measured in 2022.
The figure is down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" in United States peaked at 50.0% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 34.8%, in 2014.
United States ranks 14th of 39 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 39.2% | — |
| 1993 | 50.0% | +27.4% |
| 1998 | 35.0% | -30.1% |
| 2004 | 35.5% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 39.1% | +10.2% |
| 2014 | 34.8% | -11.0% |
| 2022 | 37.0% | +6.4% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 37.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 33.3%, 1.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 39.2% | 39.2% | 39.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 42.5% | 35.0% | 50.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 35.5% | 35.5% | 35.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.0% | 34.8% | 39.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 37.0% | 37.0% | 37.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More social development data for United States
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 457,647 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,667 (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 3,667 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0013 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 share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" in United States?
- Share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" in United States was 37.0% in 2022, according to Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 50.0% in 1993.
- What is the lowest share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.8% in 2014.
- How does United States rank for share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted"?
- United States ranks 14th out of 39 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted" rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of people agreeing with the statement "most people can be trusted". Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
% of respondents replying "Most people can be trusted" when asked "Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you need to be very careful in dealing with people?" Possible answers include "Most people can be trusted", "Do not know" and "Need to be very careful".