Trust Crisis Hits Western Europe as Young People Grow More Skeptical
Social trust levels among adolescents in Europe have undergone a significant shift over the last decade. Adolescents in Northern and Western Europe, traditionally known for having high levels of social trust, are instead showing a decline in trust towards others. Conversely, Eastern and Southern European countries have recorded an increase.
In fact, Danish adolescents now rank below their peers in Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria in terms of social trust. This is notable because, in countries such as Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands, trust in others has long been considered a vital part of the culture and social order. Despite significant regional changes, overall trust levels in Europe remain relatively stable compared to the 2010s.
A handshake with a stranger does not hold the same meaning across Europe. In Denmark, Finland, or the Netherlands, trusting others for years has been considered a part of daily life. Societies in those countries have consistently been among the most trusting towards others compared to most other nations in the world. Interestingly, this change is beginning to emerge from the generation that grew up in these environments.
Trust is not disappearing, but rather shifting. If looking at the European average, not much has changed in the last decade. However, when the data is broken down by country, the picture is far more dynamic. The trust score for Danish adolescents dropped from 8.3 in 2013 to 5.7 in 2025. France dropped from 5.0 to 4.0. On the other hand, Bulgaria rose from 4.2 to 5.4, while Croatia increased from 5.1 to 6.6.
The largest shift is occurring in places that were least expected. For years, Nordic countries have been synonymous with high levels of social trust. Therefore, the decline in Denmark is one of the most striking findings in this data. Danish adolescents now have lower trust scores than adolescents in several Eastern European countries such as Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria. While some Western and Northern European countries are trending downwards, several Eastern European countries are moving in the opposite direction.
The situation is more complex than just a matter of income. Research published in the European Journal of Political Economy in 2024 found that social trust is closely linked to trust in institutions, perceptions of fairness, and the feeling of being part of a society. Consequently, wealthier nations do not necessarily possess higher levels of trust.
Social trust is shaped by many factors closer to daily life: schools, communities, residential environments, and experiences interacting with public institutions. In several wealthy Western and Northern European countries, young people are increasingly reporting a sense of detachment from both institutions and the social environments around them. At the same time, several Eastern European countries are enjoying rising standards of living and stronger integration with European institutions compared to a decade ago.
Both trends are moving in different directions, but they produce the same pattern: the map of European trust no longer looks as it once did. Social trust has long been considered something inherent to a nation. However, trust turns out not to be permanent in one place; it can grow, weaken, and shift direction faster than is often assumed.