Trust in the Scottish Government has fallen to its lowest point compared to any other public institution, according to findings from the Scottish Household Survey. Only 46 percent of respondents indicated they trusted the government, a figure lower than any other surveyed public body. The health service received the highest trust score at 74 percent, though this represents a decline from three years prior amid concerns over treatment delays and emergency room wait times.

The trust rating for the Scottish Government has seen a marginal increase from 45 percent in the 2023 survey but represents a significant drop from 55 percent in 2022. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton attributed the decline to the SNP government's perceived incompetence, secrecy, and focus on "fringe obsessions" and independence plans, which she argued have led to crumbling public services.

Among age groups, trust was highest among 16-34-year-olds at 55 percent, while those aged 60 and over showed the lowest trust at 37 percent. The police and the health system tied for the highest trust score at 74 percent, followed by the education system at 62 percent. The justice system garnered 58 percent trust, the civil service 56 percent, and local government 50 percent.

Distrust was most prevalent for the Scottish Government at 45 percent and local government at 41 percent. Conversely, police (19 percent) and the education system (20 percent) had the lowest levels of distrust. Between 2023 and 2025, local government saw the largest increase in distrust, rising from 35 percent to 41 percent, while the health system's distrust increased from 18 percent to 24 percent.

Overall, trust in Scottish institutions has declined between 2022 and 2025, with distrust increasing and public opinion becoming less neutral. A spokesperson for the Scottish Government stated that trust levels in the government, civil service, police, and education have remained stable since 2023, with an improvement in trust for the justice system. The spokesperson also cited a Carnegie UK report indicating an increase in "high" trust in the Scottish Government between 2025 and 2026. The government's stated focus on eradicating child poverty, growing the economy, addressing the climate emergency, and delivering quality public services is intended to build public trust.