People in Finland trust public institutions
Studies show that people in Finland have significantly higher levels of trust in public institutions than people in many other countries. At the same time, the findings indicate that trust in institutions remains strong and stable, although there are differences between institutions and population groups.
Trust remains stable, but varies across institutions
People in Finland place the greatest trust in the police, the courts and the Finnish Defence Forces. As many as nine in ten people trust these institutions. Trust in central government administration is also high, while trust in the national government has increased slightly.
Trust in institutions in Finland and changes between 2023 and 2025 compared with the OECD average
| Institution | Change | 2025 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armed forces | - | 91 % (66 %) | - |
| Police | + 2 percentage points | 89 % (63 %) | 87 % (63 %) |
| Courts and judicial system | +1 percentage points | 75 % (54 %) | 74 % (54 %) |
| National civil service | + 6 percentage points | 68 % (45 %) | 62 % (45(%) |
| News media | +3 percentage points | 64 % (40 %) | 61 % (39 %) |
| Local government | +6 percentage points | 62 % (46 %) | 56 % (45 %) |
| National legislature | No change | 54 % (37 %) | 54 % (37 %) |
| Regional civil service | - | 52 % (44 %) | - |
| National government | +2 percentage points | 49 % (40 %) | 47 % (39 %) |
| Political parties | +5 percentage points | 42 % (26 %) | 37 % (24 %) |
Inclusion strengthens trust
Finland's high levels of trust in public institutions can be attributed to factors such as the welfare state, the rule of law and equality. Trust in public institutions usually changes gradually, but it does respond to wider developments in society. The drivers that influence trust vary by institution.
Above all, trust depends on how decisions are made. Opportunities to participate in decision-making and access information about the impact of decisions strengthen people's sense that the national government can be trusted. Safeguarding fairness between generations and ensuring that decisions are based on evidence also strengthen trust.
By contrast, financial concerns and experiences of discrimination are associated with lower levels of trust. Trust among young people and young adults aged 18 to 29 is also lower than among those aged over 50. For this reason, public decision-makers should pay particular attention to groups whose opportunities to participate and influence their own circumstances are limited.
Day-to-day interactions build trust
Trust grows when public institutions operate in an open and fair manner and respond to people's needs. Trust is also reinforced when people feel that information about the actions of public authorities is easy to find. People in Finland are highly satisfied with public services.
Most people experience public institutions through day-to-day interactions with public services. Every encounter with a public authority is an opportunity to strengthen openness, inclusion and mutual trust.
Explore trust in public institutions
The OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions, published every two years, makes it possible to track developments in trust among people in Finland and compare Finland's performance with that of other countries. The surveys also provide insights into the factors that underpin trust. The findings can be used in law drafting as well as in development projects. The Finnish Government's Citizens' Pulse survey also provides information on trust in Finland.
OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions 2026 | Country Note: Finland (oecd.org)
OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions 2024 | Country Note: Finland (oecd.org)
OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions 2022 (oecd.org)
OECD Survey on Drivers of Trust in Public Institutions in Finland 2021 (oecd.org)
You can learn more about the Trust Survey methodology on OECD’s website. OECD also provides more detailed data for research purposes upon request. If you are interested in Finland’s data collection process or the survey questions, please contact avoinhallinto(at)gov.fi.