OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean 2025 Results

Executive summary

In the face of challenging conditions, governments in Latin America and the Caribbean remain committed to delivering better outcomes for their citizens. Public trust in government serves as both a measurable output and an input to these efforts: sufficient levels of public trust illustrate citizens’ perceptions of when (and how) governments are performing well, and public trust can facilitate building support for necessary policy interventions. In a quickly evolving environment, policymakers are therefore increasingly interested in understanding how governments can build a policy agenda to enhance trust and improve governance more broadly. 

This report presents the main findings of the OECD Trust Survey in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It illustrates levels of trust in different public institutions as well as the drivers of citizens’ trust in those institutions. The survey, conducted in ten countries in 2023 and 2025, is the first regional exercise under the auspices of the OECD’s Global Trust Survey Project.

Despite diverse political and economic trajectories across countries, the Trust Survey reveals that trust dynamics in LAC broadly mirror those observed across OECD countries. However, average trust in government tends to be lower than in OECD countries, and perceptions of government decision making on complex policy issues tend to matter more for trust in LAC. These perceptions arise against a backdrop of widespread worries about violence: on average, 60% of LAC respondents identify crime or violence as one of the three most important issues facing their country, a rate double the OECD-wide average. While each country’s result reflects its unique national context, the findings in this report illustrate shared regional trends and offer a foundation for policy action to strengthen democratic governance and public trust in the region.

Key findings

Slightly more than one-third (35%) of people in LAC place high or moderately high trust in the national government, while close to one in two (48%) have low or no trust. Trust is lower in LAC than in OECD countries, where 39%, on average, have high or moderately high trust in the national government.

In both LAC and OECD countries, police and security institutions receive the highest trust ratings, while legislatures and political parties receive the lowest. Local government is more trusted in LAC (37%) and the OECD (45%) than national governments. In contrast to the OECD average result, a smaller share of people in LAC report high or moderately high trust in the civil service (32%) compared to the national government.

Perceptions of political voice and partisanship are more strongly associated with trust gaps than socio-economic and demographic characteristics are, echoing results across the OECD: 66% of LAC respondents who feel people like them have a say in government decisions trust the national government, compared to 21% among those who feel they lack voice. Perceived financial and physical insecurity is also associated with low trust. Differences in trust between the young and old, and between men and women, are notably smaller in LAC than across the OECD.

This report then explores how perceptions of day-to-day interactions with government and governments’ handling of complex policy issues correspond with, and potentially impact, people’s trust.

While some day-to-day interactions are assessed positively (such as contacts with administrative services (55%)), other interactions are viewed with more scepticism in LAC. These include satisfaction with the education (50%) and healthcare systems (40%). Many doubt the fairness and integrity of public employees: only 36% believe benefit applications are treated fairly, and just 31% trust civil servants to refuse bribes. Perceptions of government responsiveness are slightly higher: 43% say it is likely that services would be improved after complaints.

Consistent with findings in OECD countries, positive perceptions of day-to-day interactions with public institutions are strongly associated with higher levels of trust in the civil service and local government. Satisfaction with administrative services is the most important driver of trust in the national civil service, and second only to people’s perceived ability to voice opinions about decisions affecting their communities for trust in local government. Improved satisfaction with administrative services is also associated with higher levels of trust in the national government.

When considering governments’ capacity to handle complex policy issues, Latin Americans are more optimistic than their OECD counterparts about their government’s ability to tackle challenges like balancing intergenerational interests (46%). Latin Americans are more sceptical of institutional emergency preparedness and several aspects of government decision making, including the use of evidence and responsiveness to citizen input.

Trust Survey data show that perceptions of decision making on complex policy issues shape trust in the national government and the civil service. People who believe that the government adequately balances intergenerational interests, makes decisions based on the best available evidence, and is held accountable by the legislature are more likely to trust both institutions.

The information that people receive, from government or other sources, also influences trust. Latin Americans trust the media (42%) more than their governments, in contrast to average outcomes in OECD countries. Public communication on day-to-day matters, such as the availability of information on administrative services, is perceived more favorably than communication on more complex issues, such as impacts of major reforms.

How can governments perform better and build trust?

By improving day-to-day service delivery and complex decision-making, governments in LAC can build a resilient foundation of public trust. This entails:

• Strengthening everyday interactions with public institutions. The Trust Survey reveals that there is more room in LAC than in OECD countries to improve service satisfaction and gain trust, notably in the civil service and local government, but also in the national government. Demonstrating improvements in fairness, responsiveness and speed in service delivery, and adapting services to diverse needs, is likely to enhance positive perceptions and trust. Improving people’s confidence in public institutions’ use of personal data could likewise yield gains for trust in the civil service and local government.

• Focusing on emergency preparedness and improving capacity to address complex challenges. Governments that emphasise evidence-based policymaking and prioritise fairness across generations, groups, and regions can foster greater public trust. This is particularly true for trust in national government and civil service. Similarly, perceived preparedness for large-scale emergencies correlates with higher trust in these institutions as well as local government.

• Demonstrating accountability and open, responsive governance. Improving confidence in government branches' independence, particularly the legislature's oversight of the executive, has the potential to build trust in both the national government and civil service. Initiatives that help people feel their voices matter politically have the potential to enhance trust in the national legislature and civil service, while having a somewhat more moderate impact on trust in the national government. Similarly, expanding opportunities for community engagement at the local level can strengthen trust in local government institutions.

• Strengthening public integrity at all levels of government. This entails showing progress in developing and enforcing strategic integrity frameworks alongside robust policies on lobbying and conflict of interest. Improving perceptions of undue influence in policymaking as well as strengthening anti-corruption institutions would also likely help increase trust.

• Promote a healthy media environment and clearly communicate with the public to ensure that people have the information they need to access services and understand policy decisions and effects. Enhancing transparency around the use of evidence in decision making and around reform impacts can support trust in the national government.