Last summer, protests erupted over police reform after disturbing incidents like the death of George Floyd gripped the headlines and shone a spotlight on racial disparities in the treatment of minorities by police. “Defund the Police” became a popular slogan. But do Americans and people around the world really want to abolish the police? How do they really feel about the cops on the beat?
In the U.S., a March Ipsos/USA TODAY poll revealed only 18% of Americans want to defund the police. Nearly 60% oppose the idea. In April, Vox and Data for Progress surveyed over 1,200 likely voters. More than 60% said police officers can still be trusted.
Yet the majority of respondents agree with proposed police reforms such as ban on chokeholds and racial profiling; mandated body cameras for federal officers; and an end to “qualified immunity” for police officers who are charged with a crime. See how much money goes to the police departments in America’s largest cities.
But every country employs a police force. And citizens in those countries definitely have views on their cops.
To determine the countries with the most confidence in their police, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from Gallup’s 2020 Global Law and Order report. The report is based on the survey results of nearly 175,000 adults in 144 countries and areas in 2019.
Survey respondents were asked the following four questions: In the city or area where you live, do you have confidence in the local police force? Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live? Within the last 12 months, have you had money or property stolen from you or another household member? Within the past 12 months, have you been assaulted or mugged? Survey results were tallied and combined to create an index score between one, the least confidence in law and order, and 100, the highest confidence in law and order.
According to the Gallup report, people rated their confidence in their country’s police at at least 80 out of 100. Singapore received the top score of 97. The United States ranked number 36 on this list of 50. We scored 85 out of 100. Those scores indicate that perhaps police, despite recent controversies, are still held in high regard by citizens. Conversely, police might not be favorably viewed in the U.S. states where the police kill the most people per capita.
Click here to see countries with the most confidence in their police
Click here to see our detailed methodology
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50. Bosnia and Herzegovina
> Law and order score: 82 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
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49. Malaysia
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
48. Northern Cyprus
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
47. Hungary
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 2.5 per 100,000 people
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46. Sri Lanka
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 2.4 per 100,000 people
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45. Estonia
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 2.1 per 100,000 people
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44. United Kingdom
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
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43. South Korea
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.6 per 100,000 people
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42. Italy
> Law and order score: 83 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.6 per 100,000 people
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41. Philippines
> Law and order score: 84 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 6.5 per 100,000 people
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40. Serbia
> Law and order score: 84 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
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39. Australia
> Law and order score: 84 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.9 per 100,000 people
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38. New Zealand
> Law and order score: 84 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.7 per 100,000 people
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37. Poland
> Law and order score: 84 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.7 per 100,000 people
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36. United States
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 5.0 per 100,000 people
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35. Armenia
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.7 per 100,000 people
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34. Jordan
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.4 per 100,000 people
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33. France
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.2 per 100,000 people
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32. Sweden
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.1 per 100,000 people
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31. Ireland
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.9 per 100,000 people
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30. Japan
> Law and order score: 85 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.3 per 100,000 people
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29. Vietnam
> Law and order score: 86 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
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28. Kosovo
> Law and order score: 86 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 2.4 per 100,000 people
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27. Canada
> Law and order score: 86 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.8 per 100,000 people
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26. Malta
> Law and order score: 86 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.6 per 100,000 people
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25. Germany
> Law and order score: 86 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.9 per 100,000 people
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24. Spain
> Law and order score: 87 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.6 per 100,000 people
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23. Netherlands
> Law and order score: 87 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.6 per 100,000 people
22. Georgia
> Law and order score: 88 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 2.2 per 100,000 people
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21. Portugal
> Law and order score: 88 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.8 per 100,000 people
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20. Egypt
> Law and order score: 89 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
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19. Saudi Arabia
> Law and order score: 89 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.3 per 100,000 people
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18. Indonesia
> Law and order score: 89 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.4 per 100,000 people
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17. Taiwan
> Law and order score: 90 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
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16. Finland
> Law and order score: 90 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.6 per 100,000 people
15. Denmark
> Law and order score: 90 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.0 per 100,000 people
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14. Slovenia
> Law and order score: 90 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.5 per 100,000 people
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13. Luxembourg
> Law and order score: 90 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.3 per 100,000 people
12. Tajikistan
> Law and order score: 91 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
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11. Azerbaijan
> Law and order score: 91 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 2.2 per 100,000 people
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10. Uzbekistan
> Law and order score: 92 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.1 per 100,000 people
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9. Austria
> Law and order score: 92 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 1.0 per 100,000 people
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8. Switzerland
> Law and order score: 92 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.6 per 100,000 people
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7. Norway
> Law and order score: 92 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.5 per 100,000 people
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6. United Arab Emirates
> Law and order score: 92 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.5 per 100,000 people
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5. Kuwait
> Law and order score: 93 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
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4. Iceland
> Law and order score: 93 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.9 per 100,000 people
3. China
> Law and order score: 94 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.5 per 100,000 people
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2. Turkmenistan
> Law and order score: 97 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: N/A
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1. Singapore
> Law and order score: 97 out-of 100
> Annual homicide rate: 0.2 per 100,000 people
Methodology
To determine the countries with the most confidence in their police, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from Gallup’s 2020 Global Law and Order report. The report is based on the survey results of nearly 175,000 adults in 144 countries and areas in 2019. Countries are ranked based on confidence in law and order among residents. In the case of a tie, the country with the lower homicide rate ranked higher.
Survey respondents were asked the following four questions: In the city or area where you live, do you have confidence in the local police force? Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live? Within the last 12 months, have you had money or property stolen from you or another household member? Within the past 12 months, have you been assaulted or mugged? Survey results were tallied and combined to create an index score between 1, the least confidence in law and order, and 100, the highest confidence in law and order.
We also considered data compiled by the World Bank on deliberate homicides per 100,000 people. Homicide data for the most recent year available.
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