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Crime

These Countries Have Less Trust in the Government Than America

Photo of Jessica Lynn
By Jessica Lynn Published
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These Countries Have Less Trust in the Government Than America

© FrankHH / Shutterstock.com

To find the least trusted country in the world by its own citizens, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer. Countries are ranked by the overall Trust Index, which is the average percent trust in non-governmental organizations, business, government, and media in the general population. We broke ties by the change in score from 2023. Index scores lower than 50 denote distrust, scores up to 60 are neutral, and scores 60 and above denote trust.

For each country we also added its the income group it belongs to from the World Bank, the level of democracy from Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem)’s Democracy Report 2024, and the type of government from the CIA’s World Factbook.

Here are the countries where citizens have the least amount of trust in leaders:

Why We’re Writing About This

Suggestion box. Suggestion process information concept. Ballot box with person vote on blank voting slip voting concept.
Jack_the_sparow / Shutterstock.com

Trust in institutions, public and otherwise, can drive economic growth as it can bolster investment, innovation, and trade, among others. Globally, trust increased from 55% to 56%. But very few liberal democracies command trust, with most of them being distrusted by their own citizens. So far, elections in 2024 have caused shock waves in several countries, and the upcoming ones will likely also bring surprises. It’s interesting to see how the public’s trust, or rather distrust, has affected and will affect results.

28. China

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Trust index score, 2024: 79 out of 100 (-4 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Government at 85%
  • Least trusted institution: NGOs at 72%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Closed autocracy (communist party-led state)

27. India

009 Taj Mahal, Agra, India by tango-
009 Taj Mahal, Agra, India (BY-SA 2.0) by tango-
  • Trust index score, 2024: 76 out of 100 (+3 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 82%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 67%
  • Income group: Lower-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral autocracy (federal parliamentary republic)

26. United Arab Emirates

EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER / E+ via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 74 out of 100 (no change from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Government at 84%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 63%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Closed autocracy (federation of monarchies)

25. Indonesia

nala_rinaldo / RooM via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 73 out of 100 (-2 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 80%
  • Least trusted institution: NGOs at 69%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (presidential republic)

24. Saudi Arabia

MOHAMED HUSSAIN YOUNIS / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 72 out of 100 (+1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Government at 86%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 61%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Closed autocracy (absolute monarchy)

23. Thailand

4Y1A1150 Bangkok (33536339665)... by Ninara from Helsinki, Finland
4Y1A1150 Bangkok (33536339665)... (CC BY 2.0) by Ninara from Helsinki, Finland
  • Trust index score, 2024: 70 out of 100 (+4 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 75%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 64%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral autocracy (constitutional monarchy)

22. Malaysia

expat auswandern Malaysia Shopping Malls KL The Curve street by Conny Sandland
expat auswandern Malaysia Shopping Malls KL The Curve street (BY 2.0) by Conny Sandland
  • Trust index score, 2024: 68 out of 100 (+6 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 75%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 60%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

21. Singapore

Singapore by Fabio Achilli
Singapore (CC BY 2.0) by Fabio Achilli
  • Trust index score, 2024: 67 out of 100 (+1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Government at 77%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 60%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral autocracy (parliamentary republic)

20. Kenya

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Trust index score, 2024: 64 out of 100 (+1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: NGOs at 76%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 42%
  • Income group: Lower-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (presidential republic)

19. Nigeria

Kehinde Temitope Odutayo / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 61 out of 100 (+5 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: NGOs at 74%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 42%
  • Income group: Lower-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral autocracy (federal presidential republic)

18. Mexico

Mexico City by VV Nincic
Mexico City (BY 2.0) by VV Nincic
  • Trust index score, 2024: 59 out of 100 (-2 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 70%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 47%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (federal presidential republic)

17. Netherlands

Netherlands-4345 - Harbour Street by archer10 (Dennis)
Netherlands-4345 - Harbour Street (BY-SA 2.0) by archer10 (Dennis)
  • Trust index score, 2024: 56 out of 100 (+2 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 65%
  • Least trusted institution: NGOs at 49%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

16. Canada

Vancouver Canada by Nick Kenrick..
Vancouver Canada (BY 2.0) by Nick Kenrick..
  • Trust index score, 2024: 53 out of 100 (+1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 57%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 49%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy)

15. Brazil

marchello74 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 53 out of 100 (no change from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 66%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 42%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (federal presidential republic)

14. Australia

australia by Truque da Banana
australia (CC BY 2.0) by Truque da Banana
  • Trust index score, 2024: 52 out of 100 (+4 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 58%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 40%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy)

13. Italy

Florence, Italy by Lex Kravetski
Florence, Italy (BY 2.0) by Lex Kravetski
  • Trust index score, 2024: 50 out of 100 (no change from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 57%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 42%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary republic)

12. South Africa

fokke baarssen/Shutterstock.com
  • Trust index score, 2024: 49 out of 100 (+2 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 62%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 29%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (parliamentary republic)

11. Sweden

The old town from Skeppholmen, Stockholm, Sweden by Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com)
The old town from Skeppholmen, Stockholm, Sweden (BY 2.0) by Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com)
  • Trust index score, 2024: 49 out of 100 (no change from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 58%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 40%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

10. France

StockByM / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 47 out of 100 (no change from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: NGOs at 56%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 39%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (semi-presidential republic)

9. Ireland

Grand canal, Dublin, Ireland by Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com)
Grand canal, Dublin, Ireland (BY 2.0) by Giuseppe Milo (www.pixael.com)
  • Trust index score, 2024: 47 out of 100 (-1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 52%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 37%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary republic)

8. Colombia

Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia by Reg Natarajan
Bocagrande, Cartagena, Colombia (BY 2.0) by Reg Natarajan
  • Trust index score, 2024: 47 out of 100 (-4 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 64%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 31%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (parliamentary republic)

7. Spain

Spain by Phil Fiddyment
Spain (CC BY 2.0) by Phil Fiddyment
  • Trust index score, 2024: 46 out of 100 (+2 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 56%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 36%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

6. United States

sborisov / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 46 out of 100 (-2 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 53%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 39%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (constitutional federal republic)

5. Germany

Germany-5383 - Market Square & The Steipe by archer10 (Dennis)
Germany-5383 - Market Square & The Steipe (BY-SA 2.0) by archer10 (Dennis)
  • Trust index score, 2024: 45 out of 100 (-1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 50%
  • Least trusted institution: NGOs at 42%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (federal parliamentary republic)

4. South Korea

CJNattanai / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 43 out of 100 (+7 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: NGOs at 49%
  • Least trusted institution: Media at 37%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (presidential republic)

3. Japan

Osaka, Japan by szeke
Osaka, Japan (BY-SA 2.0) by szeke
  • Trust index score, 2024: 39 out of 100 (+1 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 50%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 32%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

2. Argentina

diegograndi / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 39 out of 100 (-3 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 51%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 21%
  • Income group: Upper-middle income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Electoral democracy (presidential republic)

1. United Kingdom

IakovKalinin / iStock via Getty Images
  • Trust index score, 2024: 39 out of 100 (-4 points from 2023 score)
  • Most trusted institution: Business at 48%
  • Least trusted institution: Government at 30%
  • Income group: High income economy
  • Level of democracy (and type of govt): Liberal democracy (parliamentary constitutional monarchy)
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