Edelman Trust Barometer highlights strong public confidence in Singapore’s government
SINGAPORE: A recent report on global trust levels in institutions reveals that Singaporeans continue to have the highest level of trust in their government, compared to other sectors.
According to the 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer, released earlier this week, 77% of Singaporeans trust their government to do what is right. In comparison, business institutions are trusted by 63%, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by 66%, and the media by 60%. These four institutions were surveyed in the study.
Interestingly, while business remains the most trusted institution globally, it is trusted by 63% of respondents in 15 out of the 28 countries surveyed, marking a slight increase from 62% in 2023. Meanwhile, NGOs earned a global trust average of 59%, up by one percentage point from last year, and are trusted in 12 countries.
In contrast, the government faces significant distrust in many parts of the world. The study shows that government institutions are distrusted in 17 of the 28 countries surveyed, including in major nations like the United States, Canada, and Germany.
However, Singapore’s results reflect a stark difference. Along with countries like Saudi Arabia, China, and the UAE, Singapore continues to enjoy high trust in its government. Despite slight decreases in trust levels in China and the UAE, Singapore’s trust in government remains strong. The global average for government trust is 51%, one percentage point higher than in 2023.
The media, while trusted by 60% of Singaporeans, is regarded with skepticism in less than half of the countries surveyed, with a global average of 50%, showing only a slight increase over the previous year.
Globally, 79% of respondents trust their employers, with Singapore scoring 76%, a two-point increase from 2023. Family-owned businesses garnered the highest trust levels worldwide.
Despite high levels of trust in certain institutions, the report highlights an ongoing global trend of distrust, particularly toward entities like the European Union and the United Nations, with both organizations facing significant distrust in multiple countries.
Julia Wei, CEO of Edelman Singapore, commented in The Straits Times: “The high and consistent trust across all four institutions—government, business, NGOs, and media—is encouraging for Singapore and reinforces the importance of private and public sectors working together to create meaningful impact.”
For more details, the full 2024 Edelman Trust Barometer report is available online.
