Key facts
- 10% of Americans cited politics as their greatest daily safety risk in a global survey.
- This is ten times the global average of 1% and up from 6% in prior surveys.
- The US is the only country where politics is viewed as a greater risk than personal health.
- Concerns about political extremism and polarization were frequently mentioned by respondents.
- Confidence in the US government has declined, with 58% stating it does not care about them.
Americans are significantly more likely than people globally to perceive politics as the primary threat to their personal safety, according to the latest Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll. The study found that one in ten Americans identified politics as their greatest daily risk, a figure that has risen and is ten times the global average of 1% across 140 countries.
The survey highlights a unique American phenomenon where politics is viewed as a more significant risk than personal health conditions, a distinction not seen in other nations. Benedict Vigers, a senior global news writer at Gallup, noted the unprecedented nature of the US figure, attributing it to the highly charged political environment and the perception of the political situation as a daily risk.
While road accidents and crime remain top concerns for Americans, the poll indicates a growing unease stemming from deep partisan divisions. The US has consistently ranked high in this category, but 2025 marks the first time it has topped the global ranking, effectively tied with Hungary. Other countries like Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Russia, Myanmar, Spain, and Israel also reported significant percentages of their populations viewing politics as a safety risk.
The findings echo broader trends of political polarization and violence in the US, including documented assassination attempts, threats against officials, and the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Concerns are not confined to specific demographics, with Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike expressing similar levels of worry. Respondents often pointed to political extremism and the general atmosphere of polarization as drivers of insecurity.
This perception of politics as a personal safety threat aligns with other Gallup polling showing increased American disillusionment with politics and a decline in confidence in government. A significant portion of Americans feel the government is unresponsive, mirroring alienation seen in other OECD countries.