What it measures
Dimension: Attitudes towards others in the community
This indicator represents the proportion of the population who believe that, generally speaking, people can be trusted. High levels of trust among people within a community reflect an expectation that individuals will support one another. A notable decline in trust occurred between 2005 and 2008. Fortunately, the trend has steadily increased since 2009 and is now close to levels seen in 1990s.
Why this matters
Trust is an important element of community vitality because it creates conditions for the development of strong interpersonal and community relationships. Such relationships are known to contribute positively to emotional wellbeing and a sense of belonging to community.