Albanians Trust Each Other Less Than Any Other Country in the Region, and They Don't Trust the State Either

 Albanians are increasingly becoming more skeptical in their relationships with others. According to a recent survey by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), which measured perceptions of security in the region, 89% of Albanians do not trust each other and tend to be very reserved in their interactions with people.

 Two people climbing a mountain trying to hold each other's hand and tied by rope

The survey also reveals that citizens of Albania and Kosovo exhibit the highest levels of distrust in their relationships with others (see the graph below). On the contrary, citizens of Serbia and Montenegro showed lower levels of distrust compared to the rest of the region. For example, 27% of Serbs believe others can be trusted, compared to only 11% of Albanians.

However, unlike the rest of the region, Albanians show high levels of trust in their families. 95% of those surveyed stated that they trust their families, a much higher percentage than the regional average, where only 77% trust their families.

Albanians also stand out for their low trust in the communities around them. Only 7% fully trust the neighborhood they live in, while the regional average is 17%.

Furthermore, 65% of those surveyed do not trust public administration, the highest level in the region. Only 1% of Albanians have trust in public administration, compared to the regional average of 4%.

A striking 93% of Albanians do not trust people they meet for the first time.

Institutional trust is notably low across the region, with political parties, social media, parliaments, the press, and television being the least trusted institutions.

There are few exceptions where the majority of respondents express trust: religious organizations (60% with much or considerable trust), armed forces (55%), police (54%), universities (53%), the European Union (55%), and NATO (54%). In the region, political parties have the least trust (80% have little or no trust), followed by social media (75%), parliaments (72%), the press (71%), and television (65%), although more than 50% express distrust in all other institutions.

Data from SecuriMeter 2024 highlight that corruption remains a widespread issue in the Western Balkans, with 83% of citizens perceiving it as prevalent, though fewer believe it is "very widespread" compared to last year.

While there has been a slight decrease in bribery, particularly in healthcare and police interactions, high-level corruption remains a significant concern.