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Americans' Perceptions of Government Corruption Reach 20-Year High

Americans' belief that government corruption is widespread has reached its highest level in two decades, with 89% of U.S. adults expressing that view. This figure represents a 10-percentage-point increase from last year and is significantly higher than the 72% to 79% range recorded between 2010 and 2025. While Democrats and independents have shown sharp increases in concern, Republicans have maintained a relatively steady view of government corruption over the past two years. Specifically, 91% of Democrats and 90% of independents reported widespread corruption this year, while 83% of Republicans shared that view. The United States now ranks among the countries with the highest perceptions of government corruption, particularly when compared to other advanced economies. Additionally, the gap between perceived government corruption and business corruption has widened, with 71% of Americans reporting widespread corruption in business, which is 18 points lower than the government figure. This trend reflects a broad bipartisan concern regarding the level of a government's integrity.

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