Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024

Public trust in the federal government, which has been low for decades, has increased modestly since 2023. As of April 2024, 22% of Americans say they trust the government in Washington to do what is right “just about always” (2%) or “most of the time” (21%). Last year, 16% said they trusted the government just about always or most of the time, which was among the lowest measures in nearly seven decades of polling.


Public trust in government near historic lows

% who say they trust the government to do what is right just about always/most of the time

Date.Individual pollsMoving average
5/19/2024PEW2222
6/11/2023PEW1619
5/01/2022PEW2020
4/11/2021PEW2421
8/2/2020PEW2024
4/12/2020PEW2721
3/25/2019PEW1717
12/04/2017PEW1818
4/11/2017PEW2019
10/04/2015PEW1918
7/20/2014CNN1419
2/26/2014PEW2418
11/15/2013CBS/NYT1720
10/13/2013PEW1919
5/31/2013CBS/NYT2020
2/06/2013CBS/NYT2022
1/13/2013PEW2623
10/31/2012NES2219
10/19/2011CBS/NYT1017
10/04/2011PEW2015
9/23/2011CNN1518
8/21/2011PEW1921
2/28/2011PEW2923
10/21/2010CBS/NYT2223
10/01/2010CBS/NYT1821
9/06/2010PEW2423
9/01/2010CNN2523
4/05/2010CBS/NYT2023
4/05/2010PEW2522
3/21/2010PEW2224
2/12/2010CNN2622
2/05/2010CBS/NYT1921
1/10/2010GALLUP1920
12/20/2009CNN2021
8/31/2009CBS/NYT2422
6/12/2009CBS/NYT2023
12/21/2008CNN2625
10/15/2008NES3124
10/13/2008CBS/NYT1724
7/09/2007CBS/NYT2424
1/09/2007PEW3128
10/08/2006CBS/NYT2929
9/15/2006CBS/NYT2830
2/05/2006PEW3431
1/20/2006CBS/NYT3233
1/06/2006GALLUP3232
12/02/2005CBS/NYT3232
9/11/2005PEW3131
9/09/2005CBS/NYT2930
6/19/2005GALLUP3035
10/15/2004NES4639
7/15/2004CBS/NYT4041
3/21/2004PEW3638
10/26/2003GALLUP3736
7/27/2003CBS/NYT3643
10/15/2002NES5546
9/04/2002GALLUP4646
9/02/2002CBS/NYT3840
7/13/2002CBS/NYT3840
6/17/2002GALLUP4443
1/24/2002CBS/NYT4646
12/07/2001CBS/NYT4849
10/25/2001CBS/NYT5554
10/06/2001GALLUP6049
1/17/2001CBS/NYT3144
10/31/2000CBS/NYT4038
10/15/2000NES4442
7/09/2000GALLUP4239
4/02/2000ABC/POST3138
2/14/2000PEW4034
10/03/1999CBS/NYT3036
9/14/1999CBS/NYT3833
5/16/1999PEW3133
2/21/1999PEW3131
2/12/1999ABC/POST3232
2/04/1999GALLUP3334
1/10/1999CBS/NYT3734
1/03/1999CBS/NYT3337
12/01/1998NES4033
11/15/1998PEW2630
11/01/1998CBS/NYT2426
10/26/1998CBS/NYT2628
8/10/1998ABC/POST3431
2/22/1998PEW3435
2/01/1998GALLUP3933
1/25/1998CBS/NYT2632
1/19/1998ABC/POST3132
10/31/1997PEW3931
8/27/1997ABC/POST2231
6/01/1997GALLUP3226
1/14/1997CBS/NYT2327
11/02/1996CBS/NYT2527
10/15/1996NES3328
5/12/1996GALLUP2731
5/06/1996ABC/POST3429
11/19/1995ABC/POST2527
8/07/1995GALLUP2222
8/05/1995CBS/NYT2021
3/19/1995ABC/POST2220
2/22/1995CBS/NYT1821
12/01/1994NES2221
10/29/1994CBS/NYT2222
10/23/1994ABC/POST2220
6/06/1994GALLUP1719
1/30/1994GALLUP1920
1/20/1994ABC/POST2422
3/24/1993GALLUP2225
1/17/1993ABC/POST2825
1/14/1993CBS/NYT2425
10/23/1992CBS/NYT2225
10/15/1992NES2925
6/08/1992GALLUP2329
10/20/1991ABC/POST3535
3/06/1991CBS/NYT4742
3/01/1991ABC/POST4546
1/27/1991ABC/POST4640
12/01/1990NES2833
10/28/1990CBS/NYT2532
9/06/1990ABC/POST4235
1/16/1990ABC/POST3838
6/29/1989CBS/NYT3539
1/15/1989CBS/NYT4441
11/10/1988CBS/NYT4443
10/15/1988NES4141
1/23/1988ABC/POST3940
10/18/1987CBS/NYT4143
6/01/1987ABC/POST4743
3/01/1987CBS/NYT4244
1/21/1987CBS/NYT4343
1/19/1987ABC/POST4442
12/01/1986NES3944
11/30/1986CBS/NYT4943
9/09/1986ABC/POST4044
1/19/1986CBS/NYT4244
11/06/1985CBS/NYT4943
7/29/1985ABC/POST3842
3/21/1985ABC/POST3740
2/27/1985CBS/NYT4642
2/22/1985ABC/POST4345
11/14/1984CBS/NYT4644
10/15/1984NES4441
12/01/1982NES3339
11/07/1980CBS/NYT3932
10/15/1980NES2530
3/12/1980CBS/NYT2627
11/03/1979CBS/NYT3028
12/01/1978NES2931
10/23/1977CBS/NYT3332
4/25/1977CBS/NYT3534
10/15/1976NES3336
9/05/1976CBS/NYT4035
6/15/1976CBS/NYT3335
3/01/1976GALLUP3334
2/08/1976CBS/NYT3635
12/01/1974NES3636
10/15/1972NES5353
12/01/1970NES5454
10/15/1968NES6262
12/01/1966NES6565
10/15/1964NES7777
12/01/1958NES7373

Sources: Pew Research Center, National Election Studies, Gallup, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, and CNN surveys.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER


When the National Election Study began asking about trust in government in 1958, about three-quarters of Americans trusted the federal government to do the right thing almost always or most of the time.

Trust in government began eroding during the 1960s, amid the escalation of the Vietnam War, and the decline continued in the 1970s with the Watergate scandal and worsening economic struggles.

Confidence in government recovered in the mid-1980s before falling again in the mid-’90s. But as the economy grew in the late 1990s, so too did trust in government. Public trust reached a three-decade high shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks but declined quickly after. Since 2007, the shares saying they can trust the government always or most of the time have not been higher than 30%.

Today, 35% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they trust the federal government just about always or most of the time, compared with 11% of Republicans and Republican leaners.

Democrats report slightly more trust in the federal government today than a year ago. Republicans’ views have been relatively unchanged over this period.

Since the 1970s, trust in government has been consistently higher among members of the party that controls the White House than among the opposition party.

Republicans have often been more reactive than Democrats to changes in political leadership, with Republicans expressing much lower levels of trust during Democratic presidencies. Democrats’ attitudes have tended to be somewhat more consistent, regardless of which party controls the White House.

However, Republican and Democratic shifts in attitudes from the end of Donald Trump’s presidency to the start of Joe Biden’s were roughly the same magnitude.


Trust in government higher among members of party that controls presidency

% who say they trust the government to do what is right just about always/most of the time

Date.Democrat/Lean DemRepublican/Lean Rep
5/19/2024PEW3511
6/11/2023PEW258
5/1/2022PEW299
4/11/2021PEW369
8/2/2020PEW1228
4/12/2020PEW1836
3/25/2019PEW1421
12/04/2017PEW1522
4/11/2017PEW1528
10/04/2015PEW2611
7/20/2014CNN1711
2/26/2014PEW3216
11/15/2013CBS/NYT318
10/13/2013PEW2710
5/31/2013CBS/NYT308
2/06/2013CBS/NYT348
1/13/2013PEW3715
10/31/2012NES2916
10/19/2011CBS/NYT138
10/04/2011PEW2712
9/23/2011CNN2011
8/21/2011PEW2513
3/01/2011PEW3424
10/21/2010CBS/NYT367
10/01/2010CBS/NYT2713
9/06/2010PEW3513
9/01/2010CNN3118
4/05/2010CBS/NYT2714
3/21/2010PEW3213
2/12/2010CNN3418
2/05/2010CBS/NYT319
1/10/2010GALLUP2316
12/20/2009CNN2516
8/31/2009CBS/NYT3412
6/12/2009CBS/NYT3510
12/21/2008CNN3022
10/15/2008NES3431
10/13/2008CBS/NYT1219
7/09/2007CBS/NYT1831
1/09/2007PEW2243
10/08/2006CBS/NYT2050
9/15/2006CBS/NYT2044
2/05/2006PEW2053
1/20/2006CBS/NYT2351
1/06/2006GALLUP2044
12/02/2005CBS/NYT1952
9/11/2005PEW1949
9/09/2005CBS/NYT2142
6/19/2005GALLUP2436
10/15/2004NES3561
3/21/2004PEW2455
10/26/2003GALLUP3542
7/27/2003CBS/NYT2551
10/15/2002NES5263
9/04/2002GALLUP3855
9/02/2002CBS/NYT3252
7/13/2002CBS/NYT3445
6/17/2002GALLUP3355
1/24/2002CBS/NYT3956
12/07/2001CBS/NYT3960
10/25/2001CBS/NYT4770
10/06/2001GALLUP5268
1/17/2001CBS/NYT2638
10/15/2000NES4843
7/09/2000GALLUP4241
4/02/2000ABC/POST3824
2/14/2000PEW4637
10/03/1999CBS/NYT3127
9/14/1999CBS/NYT4235
5/16/1999PEW3630
2/21/1999PEW3525
2/12/1999ABC/POST4121
2/04/1999GALLUP3829
1/10/1999CBS/NYT4233
1/03/1999CBS/NYT3729
12/01/1998NES4535
11/19/1998PEW3123
11/01/1998CBS/NYT2822
10/26/1998CBS/NYT2825
8/10/1998ABC/POST4030
2/22/1998PEW4228
2/01/1998GALLUP5226
1/25/1998CBS/NYT3122
10/31/1997PEW4632
6/01/1997GALLUP3925
1/14/1997CBS/NYT2920
11/02/1996CBS/NYT3120
10/15/1996NES4027
5/12/1996GALLUP3220
5/06/1996ABC/POST4135
11/19/1995ABC/POST2726
8/07/1995GALLUP2421
8/05/1995CBS/NYT2020
3/19/1995ABC/POST2720
2/22/1995CBS/NYT1819
12/01/1994NES2618
10/29/1994CBS/NYT2619
10/23/1994ABC/POST2716
6/06/1994GALLUP2311
1/30/1994GALLUP2514
1/20/1994ABC/POST3018
3/24/1993GALLUP3211
1/17/1993ABC/POST3225
1/14/1993CBS/NYT2621
10/23/1992CBS/NYT1731
10/15/1992NES3134
6/08/1992GALLUP1731
10/20/1991ABC/POST3141
3/06/1991CBS/NYT4056
3/01/1991ABC/POST4152
12/01/1990NES2632
10/28/1990CBS/NYT2131
9/06/1990ABC/POST3748
1/16/1990ABC/POST3246
6/29/1989CBS/NYT2745
1/15/1989CBS/NYT3754
11/10/1988CBS/NYT3658
10/15/1988NES3551
1/23/1988ABC/POST3151
10/18/1987CBS/NYT3647
6/01/1987ABC/POST3859
3/01/1987CBS/NYT3454
1/21/1987CBS/NYT3651
1/19/1987ABC/POST3951
12/01/1986NES3153
11/30/1986CBS/NYT3763
9/09/1986ABC/POST3051
1/19/1986CBS/NYT3651
11/06/1985CBS/NYT4259
7/29/1985ABC/POST3048
3/21/1985ABC/POST2949
2/22/1985ABC/POST3062
11/14/1984CBS/NYT3659
10/15/1984NES4150
12/01/1982NES3241
11/07/1980CBS/NYT4042
10/15/1980NES3123
3/12/1980CBS/NYT3022
11/03/1979CBS/NYT3228
12/01/1978NES3326
10/23/1977CBS/NYT4025
4/25/1977CBS/NYT3734
10/15/1976NES3042
9/05/1976CBS/NYT3845
6/15/1976CBS/NYT3636
3/01/1976GALLUP3140
12/01/1974NES3638
10/15/1972NES4862
12/01/1970NES5261
10/15/1968NES6660
12/01/1966NES7154
10/15/1964NES8073
12/01/1958NES7179

Sources: Pew Research Center, National Election Studies, Gallup, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, and CNN surveys.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER



Trust in government by party and ideology

% who say they trust the government to do what is right just about always/most of the time

Date.Liberal Dem/Lean DemCons-Moderate Dem/Lean DemModerate-Lib Rep/Lean RepConservative Rep/Lean Rep
5/19/2024PEW3336177
6/11/2023PEW2327144
5/1/2022PEW2632137
4/11/2021PEW3140165
8/2/2020PEW8163127
4/12/2020PEW12223737
3/25/2019PEW13152120
12/04/2017PEW15162620
4/11/2017PEW15163226
10/04/2015PEW2825149
7/20/2014CNN1916157
2/26/2014PEW31332113
11/15/2013CBS/NYT3825135
10/13/2013PEW2527167
5/31/2013CBS/NYT3030164
2/06/2013CBS/NYT353497
1/13/2013PEW34371714
10/31/2012NES26321815
10/19/2011CBS/NYT913117
10/04/2011PEW3025149
9/23/2011CNN30161111
8/21/2011PEW26241810
3/01/2011PEW36333218
10/21/2010CBS/NYT3735124
10/01/2010CBS/NYT34221016
9/06/2010PEW39311910
9/01/2010CNN36302811
4/05/2010CBS/NYT3721237
3/21/2010PEW36311911
2/12/2010CNN3634259
2/05/2010CBS/NYT3132137
1/10/2010GALLUP29222012
12/20/2009CNN31231813
8/31/2009CBS/NYT38301410
6/12/2009CBS/NYT4234138
12/21/2008CNN36282817
10/15/2008NES37344828
10/13/2008CBS/NYT16122612
7/09/2007CBS/NYT14213828
1/09/2007PEW15254145
10/08/2006CBS/NYT14225051
9/15/2006CBS/NYT11234444
2/05/2006PEW13235254
1/20/2006CBS/NYT27215250
1/06/2006GALLUP10263356
12/02/2005CBS/NYT16216047
9/11/2005PEW13223954
9/09/2005CBS/NYT12264641
6/19/2005GALLUP25243141
10/15/2004NES24396359
3/21/2004PEW23245356
10/26/2003GALLUP23393152
7/27/2003CBS/NYT21275547
10/15/2002NES53566661
9/04/2002GALLUP31405060
9/02/2002CBS/NYT32325553
7/13/2002CBS/NYT37335042
6/17/2002GALLUP30365955
1/24/2002CBS/NYT38395854
12/07/2001CBS/NYT34436158
10/06/2001GALLUP46556669
1/17/2001CBS/NYT33244133
10/15/2000NES58525444
7/09/2000GALLUP41425035
4/02/2000ABC/POST38392820
10/03/1999CBS/NYT26332924
9/14/1999CBS/NYT38454227
2/12/1999ABC/POST40432616
2/04/1999GALLUP36403327
1/10/1999CBS/NYT39444028
1/03/1999CBS/NYT34393126
12/01/1998NES45463934
11/01/1998CBS/NYT28282322
10/26/1998CBS/NYT30282226
8/10/1998ABC/POST38352427
2/01/1998GALLUP55523323
1/25/1998CBS/NYT24312419
6/01/1997GALLUP41383121
1/14/1997CBS/NYT30282514
11/02/1996CBS/NYT30322119
10/15/1996NES38393025
5/12/1996GALLUP25352518
5/06/1996ABC/POST41413933
11/19/1995ABC/POST26272628
8/07/1995GALLUP16271725
8/05/1995CBS/NYT21191923
3/19/1995ABC/POST24282217
2/22/1995CBS/NYT20182217
12/01/1994NES22282116
10/29/1994CBS/NYT26272315
10/23/1994ABC/POST32252211
6/06/1994GALLUP1626159
1/30/1994GALLUP20271812
1/20/1994ABC/POST26312510
1/17/1993ABC/POST30332822
1/14/1993CBS/NYT17302020
10/23/1992CBS/NYT20153032
10/15/1992NES26333731
6/08/1992GALLUP13193130
10/20/1991ABC/POST25334239
3/06/1991CBS/NYT46395756
3/01/1991ABC/POST39415450
12/01/1990NES27263133
9/06/1990ABC/POST34394945
1/16/1990ABC/POST28345039
6/29/1989CBS/NYT27273855
1/15/1989CBS/NYT33385654
11/10/1988CBS/NYT24406552
10/15/1988NES34355251
1/23/1988ABC/POST30315449
10/18/1987CBS/NYT34374749
6/01/1987ABC/POST34416055
1/21/1987CBS/NYT34375448
1/19/1987ABC/POST37385251
12/01/1986NES25365353
9/09/1986ABC/POST25345544
1/19/1986CBS/NYT34385152
11/06/1985CBS/NYT42436056
7/29/1985ABC/POST26335341
3/21/1985ABC/POST27295248
2/22/1985ABC/POST28336263
10/15/1984NES34475246
12/01/1982NES29354838
11/07/1980CBS/NYT38424441
10/15/1980NES34282818
3/12/1980CBS/NYT31292518
11/03/1979CBS/NYT34312826
12/01/1978NES38332424
10/23/1977CBS/NYT41413216
4/25/1977CBS/NYT41383336
10/15/1976NES27344941
9/05/1976CBS/NYT33424545
6/15/1976CBS/NYT35353934
12/01/1974NES36403940
10/15/1972NES44536266

Sources: Pew Research Center, National Election Studies, Gallup, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, and CNN surveys.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER


Among Asian, Hispanic and Black adults, 36%, 30% and 27% respectively say they trust the federal government “most of the time” or “just about always” – higher levels of trust than among White adults (19%).

During the last Democratic administration, Black and Hispanic adults similarly expressed more trust in government than White adults. Throughout most recent Republican administrations, White Americans were substantially more likely than Black Americans to express trust in the federal government to do the right thing.


Trust in government by race and ethnicity

% who say they trust the government to do what is right just about always/most of the time

Date.HispanicBlackWhiteAsian
5/19/2024PEW30271936
6/11/2023PEW23211323
5/1/2022PEW29241637
4/11/2021PEW36371829
8/2/2020PEW28151827
4/12/2020PEW292726
3/25/2019PEW28917
12/04/2017PEW231517
4/11/2017PEW241320
10/04/2015PEW282315
7/20/2014CNN9
2/26/2014PEW332622
11/15/2013CBS/NYT12
10/13/2013PEW212417
5/31/2013CBS/NYT15
2/06/2013CBS/NYT3915
1/13/2013PEW443820
10/31/2012NES383816
10/19/2011CBS/NYT15158
10/04/2011PEW292517
9/23/2011CNN10
8/21/2011PEW283515
3/01/2011PEW282530
10/21/2010CBS/NYT4015
10/01/2010CBS/NYT17
9/06/2010PEW373720
9/01/2010CNN21
4/05/2010CBS/NYT18
3/21/2010PEW263720
2/12/2010CNN22
2/05/2010CBS/NYT16
1/10/2010GALLUP16
12/20/2009CNN2118
8/31/2009CBS/NYT21
6/12/2009CBS/NYT16
12/21/2008CNN22
10/15/2008NES342830
10/13/2008CBS/NYT18
7/09/2007CBS/NYT1125
1/09/2007PEW352032
10/08/2006CBS/NYT31
9/15/2006CBS/NYT31
2/05/2006PEW2636
1/20/2006CBS/NYT1934
1/06/2006GALLUP33
12/02/2005CBS/NYT35
9/11/2005PEW1232
9/09/2005CBS/NYT1229
6/19/2005GALLUP32
10/15/2004NES3450
3/21/2004PEW1741
10/26/2003GALLUP39
7/27/2003CBS/NYT1937
10/15/2002NES4158
9/04/2002GALLUP46
9/02/2002CBS/NYT39
7/13/2002CBS/NYT39
6/17/2002GALLUP48
1/24/2002CBS/NYT48
12/07/2001CBS/NYT51
10/25/2001CBS/NYT60
10/06/2001GALLUP61
1/17/2001CBS/NYT33
10/15/2000NES3246
7/09/2000GALLUP41
4/02/2000ABC/POST28
2/14/2000PEW3640
10/03/1999CBS/NYT28
9/14/1999CBS/NYT3039
5/16/1999PEW2831
2/21/1999PEW3231
2/12/1999ABC/POST32
2/04/1999GALLUP33
1/10/1999CBS/NYT3735
1/03/1999CBS/NYT3931
12/01/1998NES573638
11/19/1998PEW2726
11/01/1998CBS/NYT2922
10/26/1998CBS/NYT2625
8/10/1998ABC/POST33
2/22/1998PEW4233
2/01/1998GALLUP36
1/25/1998CBS/NYT25
10/31/1997PEW3938
6/01/1997GALLUP3132
1/14/1997CBS/NYT1524
11/02/1996CBS/NYT313024
10/15/1996NES3532
5/12/1996GALLUP24
5/06/1996ABC/POST34
11/19/1995ABC/POST26
8/07/1995GALLUP22
8/05/1995CBS/NYT2419
3/19/1995ABC/POST2721
2/22/1995CBS/NYT2017
12/01/1994NES2220
10/29/1994CBS/NYT1622
10/23/1994ABC/POST21
6/06/1994GALLUP15
1/30/1994GALLUP17
1/20/1994ABC/POST3421
3/24/1993GALLUP20
1/17/1993ABC/POST4525
1/14/1993CBS/NYT2224
10/23/1992CBS/NYT2123
10/15/1992NES372728
6/08/1992GALLUP23
10/20/1991ABC/POST2936
3/06/1991CBS/NYT3049
3/01/1991ABC/POST3546
12/01/1990NES392227
10/28/1990CBS/NYT2625
9/06/1990ABC/POST3943
1/16/1990ABC/POST3538
6/29/1989CBS/NYT2636
1/15/1989CBS/NYT3346
11/10/1988CBS/NYT3345
10/15/1988NES2543
1/23/1988ABC/POST2941
10/18/1987CBS/NYT3241
6/01/1987ABC/POST3449
3/01/1987CBS/NYT2045
1/21/1987CBS/NYT2746
1/19/1987ABC/POST3147
12/01/1986NES2142
11/30/1986CBS/NYT2352
9/09/1986ABC/POST2642
1/19/1986CBS/NYT2245
11/06/1985CBS/NYT3452
7/29/1985ABC/POST2240
3/21/1985ABC/POST2940
2/22/1985ABC/POST2446
10/15/1984NES3346
12/01/1982NES2634
11/07/1980CBS/NYT3040
10/15/1980NES2625
3/12/1980CBS/NYT3524
11/03/1979CBS/NYT3629
12/01/1978NES2929
10/23/1977CBS/NYT2834
4/25/1977CBS/NYT3435
10/15/1976NES2235
6/15/1976CBS/NYT3534
3/01/1976GALLUP2334
12/01/1974NES1938
10/15/1972NES3256
12/01/1970NES4055
10/15/1968NES6261
12/01/1966NES6565
10/15/1964NES7777
12/01/1958NES6274

Sources: Pew Research Center, National Election Studies, Gallup, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, and CNN surveys.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER


Note: For full question wording, refer to the topline. White, Black and Asian American adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.

Sources: Pew Research Center, National Election Studies, Gallup, ABC/Washington Post, CBS/New York Times, and CNN surveys. Data from 2020 and later comes from Pew Research Center’s online American Trends Panel; prior data is from telephone surveys. Details about changes in survey mode can be found in this 2020 report. Read more about the Center’s polling methodology. For analysis by party and race/ethnicity, selected datasets were obtained from searches of the iPOLL Databank provided by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research.

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