Eighty-nine percent of respondents in the Kingdom say they trust the government to do what is right, the highest share among the 28 countries in the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, according to the report's findings carried by Saudi newspapers on 11 and 12 November 2026. The barometer is now in its 26th edition.
The result keeps the Kingdom first in the world for trust in government for the third year running, after 86% in the 2024 edition and 87% in 2025. The main findings for the Kingdom:
- Trust in government: 89%, against a global average of 53%.
- Optimism about the next generation: 65% expect the next generation to be better off, the highest rate in the world, shared with Nigeria. The global figure is 32%.
- Trust in employers: 82%.
- Trust in business: 77%.
- Trust in the media: 66%.
- Trust in NGOs: 62%.
The barometer is based on an online survey of 33,938 respondents in 28 countries, carried out between 25 October and 16 November 2025, and the Kingdom's country report was released at the start of 2026. "Trust in government remains a defining strength," Elie Azzi, CEO of Edelman Saudi Arabia, said at the time.
Source: Edelman, Okaz, Al-Watan, Riyadh Daily
