Germans’ trust in the state falls to a record low, with only 32% supporting the government

A recent survey shows that German citizens’ trust in the state has fallen to its lowest level on record. The study was published by the D21 initiative in cooperation with the Technical University of Munich.

Only 32 percent of respondents said they had a great deal or a very great deal of trust in the state overall. Four years ago, that figure was 38 percent.

Trust in public administration and government offices has also declined. These institutions are currently trusted by 34 percent of respondents, down from 37 percent previously.

The police remain the most trusted public institution, at 55 percent. They are followed by the justice system and the courts, which are trusted by 41 percent of citizens.

Among political institutions, cities and municipalities lead with 29 percent trust. Regional institutions received 20 percent, while federal institutions received just 17 percent.

Trust in the media also remains low. Only 20 percent of respondents said they had a great deal or a very great deal of trust in the press and media.

The survey was conducted by Kantar in April and May and included around 8,000 people over the age of 16 across Germany.

The study, titled “eGovernment Monitor 2026,” focused in particular on the digital transformation of public administration.