Saudi Arabia ranked the world's most trusted government in 2025
Francis Fukuyama's book 'Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity' laid the foundation for studies on societal trust and influenced the evolution of the Edelman Trust Barometer at the end of the last century. In fact, Fukuyama argued that societies with high levels of trust and strong social capital, supported by robust legal frameworks, are best positioned to thrive in a competitive global economy. His vision on trust, social capital and governance remains highly relevant today, particularly as countries navigate evolving economic and political landscapes.
The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer latest report highlights Saudi Arabia as a leading example of a nation where public trust in government remains exceptionally strong. The report ranks Saudi Arabia first in government trust among 28 measured countries, with 87 percent of citizens expressing confidence in the government's performance and efficiency. Notably, this represents a one-point increase from the previous year and continues an incredible upward trend since the Kingdom was first included in the rankings a few years ago.
This increase in public trust reflects the Kingdom's broader transformation efforts under Saudi Vision 2030, a strategic road map launched in 2016 to drive economic diversification and social development. The 2025 Edelman Report on Trust is a testament to Saudi Arabia's progress, showcasing how effective governance, ambitious economic reforms and strong leadership have strengthened public confidence, and reinforced the Kingdom's status as a premier global destination for business, tourism and investment.
Furthermore, the results of the 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer reflect a more complex reality than traditional theories on the relationship between trust and liberal democracy suggest.
While many regard democratic institutions as the foundation for building societal trust, recent rankings released by Edelman suggest that two key factors linked to public trust — economic growth and rising individual incomes, resulting from a prosperous economy — are even more influential in strengthening citizens' trust in their governments, regardless of the political system.
In countries with strong performance, such as Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE, which are at the top of the Edelman Trust Barometer list, confidence, in my opinion, is built on government achievement rather than political participation mechanisms.
In contrast, many well-established democracies — such as Germany and Japan — which rank among the top countries in the Freedom House index for democratic systems and civil liberties, are experiencing a decline in public trust. This erosion may be considered a result of political polarization, sluggish decision-making and economic crises, leading to lower rankings in the Edelman Trust Index.
This reveals that citizens' confidence is not exclusive to democratic systems but is instead a direct result of a government's ability to ensure stability and prosperity for its citizens.
To summarize, as we approach 2030, the coming years — especially with the completion and opening of Vision 2030's giga-projects — are expected to significantly boost trust in the Kingdom. As these transformative projects become operational, they will attract businesses, stimulate economic growth and further reinforce confidence in the Saudi leadership's long-term vision.
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