The afternoon sun shines on the U.S. Capitol Building on July 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON - Americans’ belief that government corruption is widespread has reached its highest level in two decades, with 89% expressing that view, according to Gallup.
The figure is up 10 percentage points from last year and exceeds readings between 72% and 79% recorded from 2010 through 2025.
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By the numbers:
Democrats reported the sharpest increase in concern since 2024. Fifty-seven percent said corruption was widespread during former President Joe Biden’s final year in office, compared with 76% in 2025, the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, and 91% this year.
Independents followed closely at 90%, up 12 points from 2024, while 83% of Republicans shared that view.
Republicans’ opinions have remained relatively steady. About eight in 10 have said corruption is widespread over the past two years, similar to the 87% recorded in 2024.
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Although large majorities in both parties view government corruption as widespread, Gallup said their views may be shaped by different factors.
Democrats’ perceptions appear more closely tied to which party controls the White House, while Republicans’ more consistent views suggest their concerns may be less dependent on the party in power.
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Gallup also surveys perceptions of corruption in government and business around the world. The two measures are typically closely connected, but the United States is increasingly an exception.
Seventy-one percent of Americans now say corruption is widespread in business, an eight-point increase from last year. That is 18 points below the figure for government corruption, representing the largest gap between the two measures in the U.S. trend.
From 2006 to 2025, Americans’ perceptions of government corruption were, on average, 11 points higher than their perceptions of business corruption. Few countries in Gallup’s trend have recorded a larger gap than the United States has this year.
Big picture view:
The United States now ranks among the countries with the highest perceptions of government corruption, including compared with other advanced economies. While concerns about business corruption have also increased, Americans view corruption in government as significantly more widespread.
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Despite deep political divisions on many issues, Gallup’s findings show broad concern about government corruption across party lines. The record-high national figure is being driven in part by the closer alignment between Democrats’ and Republicans’ views.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a Gallup poll examining Americans’ perceptions of corruption in government and business. The survey compares current views with Gallup’s previous findings and breaks down responses by political party. This story was reported from Los Angeles.