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:
Figures of 2018 are preliminary. Figures of 2002 until 2016 are definite.

Changes as of 30 July 2021.
The preliminary figures of 2016 are corrected and made definite. Figures of 2018 are new.

When will new figures be published?
New figures will be published in 2023. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries postponed their survey..


New figures will be published at the end of 2021. This will be preliminary figures of 2020, with most
countries going into the field one year later due to the COVID-19 pandemic.