OECD Survey on the Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions: 2024 Results

Presentation: Key findings from OECD Trust Survey 2024 Results. For more information see https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-survey-on-drivers-of-trust-in-public-institutions-2024-results_9a20554b-en.html

1. OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in
Public Institutions – 2024 Results
Building Trust in a Complex Policy Environment
10 July 2024

2. Low or no trust in national government outweighs high or moderately
high trust
2
Share of population who indicate different levels of trust in their national government (on a 0-10 scale), 2023
39% report high to moderately high trust and 44% low or no trust

3. Trust in national government has declined overall since 2021, but
not everywhere
Share of population who indicate different levels of trust in their national government (on a 0-10 scale), 2021 and 2023
3
Across 18 countries, the share with high or moderately high trust fell from 43% to 41%

4. Perceptions of having a say in government actions affect trust greatly
Share of population with high or moderately high trust in the national government by population group, OECD, 2023

5. Women and lower educated people have the largest decrease in
trust in national government compared to 2021
5
Share of population with high or moderately high trust in the
national government by population group, 2021 and 2023
+ 3 p.p.
-6 p.p.
+ 6 p.p.
Change in the education, gender and age
trust gaps between 2021 and 2023

6. 6
Relative satisfaction of citizens in
their day-to-day interactions with
public institutions currently
helps maintain trust levels

7. Governments still seen as relatively reliable in delivering public services
Share of users with different satisfaction levels with public services and use of personal data, 2023
Healthcare Education Admin. services
53%
12%
35%
0%
57%
13%
29%
1%
66%
12%
22%
0%
Use of personal data
52%
16%
28%
4%
7
A majority is satisfied with public services and government handling of data

8. 8
But progress needs to be made to respond to public feedback on day-
to-day interactions and improve perceptions of integrity
41% believe they would be able to voice their opinions on a decision affecting their community
and 36% that a government employee would refuse a bribe to speed up service access
Share who find it likely or unlikely that they would be
able to voice their opinion on a local decision, 2023
Share who find it likely or unlikely that a public
employee would refuse a bribe, 2023

9. Main areas of focus for greater impact on trust – Day-to-day interactions
9
1
Ease of finding
information on
administrative
services
2
Public employees refuse bribes
3
Improved services due to complaints
4
Fair treatment of benefit claims
5
Satisfaction with administrative services
6
Fair treatment of people by public
employees 7
Public agencies’
legitimate use of
personal data
8
Ability to voice opinions on local matters
9
Public agencies’ use of innovation
Trust in Civil
Service
Trust in Local
Government
Trust in
National
Government

10. 10
Concerns about how governments
tackle complex policy issues are
driving trust levels down

11. A majority trusts government’s preparedness for emergencies, but
fewer that it can handle other complex policy issues
11
Share of population reporting different levels of confidence in the capabilities of government on various issues, OECD, 2023
53% say their government would be prepared for a national emergency,
but only 37% that it would balance intergenerational interests

12. Many believe that private sector interests significantly influence
government decision making
12
Share who find it likely or unlikely that they government would refuse the corporation’s demand, 2023
30% think government would refuse a corporation’s demand that is against the public interest

13. Perceived lack of citizen voice in government decision-making impacts trust
13
Share of population with high or moderately high trust in the national government (y-axis) and who find it likely that
political system allows people to have a say in what the government does (x-axis), 2023
30% believe the political system allows people like them to have a say in what government does

14. Use of evidence in policy-making is also key for trust
14
Share of population with high or moderately high trust in the national government (y-axis)
and who find it likely that government takes decisions based on evidence (x-axis), 2023
41% believe that government relies on the best available evidence, data and statistics in taking decisions

15. Main areas of focus for greater impact on trust – Decision making on
complex policy issues
15
10
Government
decisions based
on evidence
11
Government balances intergenerational interests
12Political voice13
Parliament holds government accountable
14
Government institutions prepared for emergency
15
Government explains reform impacts
16
Government withstands undue influence
17
Opinions from consultations are adopted
18
Parliament balances diverse interests
Trust in Civil
Service
Trust in Local
Government
Trust in
National
Government
19
Confidence to participate in politics

16. 16
Main conclusions for policy action to enhance trust in public institutions
1
Make engagement with citizens more meaningful for decision-making to
enhance trust in local and national government.
2
Strengthen the ability to transparently address complex policy challenges
in the public's interest, particularly at the national level.
3
Support a healthy information ecosystem and invest in evidence-based
communication.
4 For all institutions, invest in improving perceptions of integrity .
5 Continue to invest in reliable, responsive and fair public services.

17. 17
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Access the report:
oe.cd/trust-results-2024
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