Trust in others, legal system and politics; European comparison

This table provides information on how much inhabitants of various European countries aged 15 years or older trust other people, the legal system and politics. Figures are from 2002 onwards. The question concerning trust in other people is: Overall, do you think most people can be trusted, or that you can’t be too careful?. Trust in the legal system and politics is determined by asking people how much they trust a number of political and organisational institutions, viz. national parliament, the legal system, the police, politicians, political parties, the European Parliament and the United Nations. The figures in this table are based on the European Social Survey (ESS). The ESS is conducted every two years commissioned by the European Committee, the European Science Foundation and various national organisations for scientific research.

Data available from: 2002

Status of the figures: The figures for 2024 are provisional. The figures from 2002 up to and including 2022 are final.

Changes as of: 31 July 2025 In an earlier version of the table, provisional figures were included under the year 2020. These figures were based on a preliminary publication by ESS from 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the round of ESS that was planned for 2020 was delayed and ended up coinciding with the round conducted in 2022. As a result, the 2020 and 2022 rounds were merged into a single round with data collected over 2020, 2021, and 2022. The results of this round were finalized in 2022. Therefore, in the revision of this table, the relevant figures are no longer listed under the year 2020, but have been correctly assigned to 2022, in accordance with the moment of finalization.The definitive figures for 2022 have been added. The provisional figures for 2024 have been added.

When will new figures be published? New figures will be published in 2027.