Singapore loses to China as world’s most trusting country

But trust levels rose impressively in Singapore.

According to The Edelman Trust Barometer, Singapore ranked as the 2nd most trusting country out of 26 economies surveyed. This is one step higher from last year.

China retained its top spot while UAE tumbled to 6th spot from being last year’s 2nd.

The trust barometer survey shows the general and informed public’s trust in various institutions including the government, media, businesses, and non-government organizations (NGOs). The survey revealed that trust in NGOs remain the highest with 4 out 5 markets recording the highest trust in APAC region.

Here’s more:

On the surface, 2012 didn't seem like the type of year in Singapore where trust in government and business would go up, with slow economic growth1 and a series of high profile scandals2 both for government and business.

But not only did trust in business and government go up, it did so at a pace greater than regional and global averages. Singapore is now the second most trusting country in the world, and has the highest levels of trust in government globally. 

According to the 2013 Edelman Trust Barometer*, conducted in 26 countries worldwide to measure levels of trust in institutions, Singapore's total trust score rose by nine points – three points more than the global rise .

Trust levels in Singapore rose across three of the four institutions measured, including Business (up 11 points), NGOs (up 11 points), and Government (up 9 points). That Singaporeans remain trusting overall should be no surprise; they've been ranked as a top trusting country since 2010, the first year trust was measured in Singapore.

But why did Singapore continue to grow in trust despite being exposed to one scandal or issue after another? A closer analysis of the 2013 Edelman Trust Barometer results shows us that trust was negatively impacted in some ways, and that there are steps institutions can take to improve.