Kyrgyzstan sees decline in public trust for government bodies

Kyrgyz citizens' trust in government bodies has seen a notable decline for the first time in three years, as indicated by data from the National Statistical Committee for the first half of 2026. The overall trust index across the republic has fallen to 44.9 points, down from 46.2 points at the end of 2025.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) maintained its position as the most trusted agency, scoring 56.6 points in 2026, a slight decrease from 57.5 points in the previous year. Following closely, the Ministry of Defense saw an increase in trust, reaching 55.6 points compared to 54.3 points in 2025. The State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports also garnered significant trust, ranking third with 52.2 points.

Conversely, several ministries experienced a drop in public confidence. The Ministry of Health recorded 34.3 points (down from 33.5), the Ministry of Construction, Architecture, and Housing and Communal Services received 35.7 points (down from 37.7), and the State Customs Service garnered 36 points (down from 37.3).

Regional disparities in trust levels are evident. Issyk-Kul Oblast leads with the highest level of support for state structures, with its index rising to 73.2 points from 70.8. Naryn Oblast followed with 68.4 points (up from 65.1), and Batken Oblast recorded 62.5 points (down from 68.9).

Bishkek, the capital city, traditionally exhibits the highest degree of skepticism. The overall trust index for national agencies in Bishkek dropped from 27 points in late 2025 to 24.7 points in early 2026. Chuy Oblast remains the second most critical region, with its trust index falling slightly from 37.9 points in 2025 to 37 points in 2026.

Interestingly, citizens continue to rate the performance of the Bishkek Mayor's Office significantly higher than that of national ministries. The trust index for the city administration stood at 41.2 points in 2026, a noticeable decrease from 48.8 points in late 2025, yet still surpassing many republican agencies.

The index measuring personal perception of corruption also decreased nationwide, from 42.2 points in 2025 to 39.3 points in 2026. The MES and Ministry of Defense were perceived as the least corrupt agencies. In contrast, the Ministry of Health and the State Customs Service faced the highest levels of perceived corruption. In Bishkek, the perception of corruption in the mayor's office also declined.