Key points

About 69% of Americans say government corruption is their greatest fear.

Fear of government corruption can impact physical and mental health.

Fear can be managed in healthy and productive ways.

Fear of Government Corruption Ranks #1 in America. Source: Debbie Peterson

The year 2025 marks a 10-year run in which Americans identify government corruption as their number one fear among the 90 most common fears. Researchers at Chapman University annually poll over 1,000 Americans nationwide and rank their responses by the percentage of Americans who report being afraid or very afraid.

The 2025 Survey of American Fears, released on October 21, finds that 69% of respondents are afraid or very afraid of government corruption. Americans' next greatest fear, expressed by 58.9% of

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