- Among key public officials, the police, the House of Representatives, the Presidency, the Senate, judges and magistrates, and tax officials are most widely perceived as corrupt (Figure 1).
- Three-fourths (76%) of Liberians say the level of corruption in the country increased “somewhat” or “a lot” over the past year, a 29-percentage-point jump compared to 2018 (Figure 2).
- Almost nine out of 10 Liberians (88%) say the government is doing a poor job of fighting corruption, a 30-point increase since 2018 (Figure 3).
- Majorities of Liberians say they trust religious leaders (63%) and the army (62%) “somewhat” or “a lot.” Fewer than four in 10 citizens express trust in the president (37%), the National Elections Commission (34%), the courts (30%), and other key institutions and leaders (Figure 4).
Large majorities of Liberians say corruption in the country increased during the past year and the government is doing a poor job of fighting it, the latest Afrobarometer survey shows.
Among key public institutions, the police, the House of Representatives, the Presidency, and the Senate is most widely seen as corrupt, while fewer citizens perceive corruption as widespread among non-governmental organizations and religious and traditional leaders.
Survey findings also show higher levels of popular trust in religious leaders, the Armed Forces of Liberia, and traditional leaders than in government officials, the courts, the police, and the National Elections Commission (NEC).
As the country prepares for general elections in October, popular trust in the NEC and the government can bolster citizens’ confidence in the electoral process.
