The report, titled 'Trust in Public Institutions (2025): Findings from the Scottish Household Survey', details key findings on public confidence. Distrust was highest for the Scottish Government (45%) and Local Government (41%), compared to the Police (19%), the Education System (20%), and the Civil Service (22%). Between 2023 and 2025, distrust increased most significantly for Local Government (from 35% to 41%) and the Health System (from 18% to 24%).
Net trust, calculated as the difference between trust and distrust percentages, showed the Police with the highest net trust at +54 percentage points. The Scottish Government had neutral net trust, with equal proportions of adults expressing trust and distrust.
Trust levels varied across demographic groups. Younger adults (16-34) generally reported higher trust than older age groups. Disabled adults showed lower trust and higher distrust across all institutions. Minority ethnic groups generally reported higher trust, while those in the most deprived areas reported lower trust. Differences based on sex and urban-rural classification were less pronounced.
Trust in all seven surveyed institutions declined in 2025 compared to 2022, with the largest drops for the Scottish Government and Local Government (both down nine percentage points). While changes since 2023 were smaller, with some increases in trust for the Justice System and stability for others, overall distrust has risen, and fewer people selected 'don't know', suggesting more defined views.
The survey, conducted biennially since 1999, included questions on trust in seven public institutions: the Scottish Government, Local Government, the Civil Service, the Education System, the Health System, the Police, and the Justice System. The full report and data tables are available on the Scottish Government website.
