Survey: Politics Seen as a Threat to Personal Safety by One in Ten Americans
One study finds one in ten U.S. adults now names politics as a threat to personal safety, reflecting growing concerns about political polarization and trust in government.
The rise in Americans naming politics as a threat to personal safety is detailed in the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Risks 2026 report, which asked open-ended questions about the biggest risks respondents face. The finding shows 10% of U.S. adults identified politics as the top danger to their personal safety, up from 6% in both 2021 and 2023.
The U.S. share is far higher than the global average of 1% across 140 countries covered by the study, and represents the first time the United States has led the ranking in the survey’s multiwave series.
Lloyd’s Register Foundation Global Risks 2026: Key findings
The global risks survey asked adults in many countries to name the single greatest threat to their personal safety in an open format, allowing respondents to cite politics without prompting.
In the United States, the proportion citing politics rose to 10%, a notable increase compared with earlier waves of the poll, which recorded 6% in 2021 and 2023.
The report records the U.S. result as roughly ten times the global average, signaling an unusually strong association between political conditions and personal security perceptions among Americans.
The survey’s methodology covers a wide mix of countries and uses open-ended answers to capture what people actually worry about rather than a fixed list of choices.
Geography and international comparisons
Statistically, the United States was tied with Hungary, which registered 9% of adults citing politics as their top safety concern; Hungary’s figure was measured prior to a recent election cycle.
Other countries with relatively higher reporting included Serbia, Latvia and Lithuania at about 6% each, while Slovakia, Russia, Myanmar and Spain each recorded roughly 5%.
Most countries in the global sample registered far lower shares, underscoring how exceptional the U.S. result is in comparative terms.
Analysts say such cross-national differences reflect distinct political contexts, media environments and recent crises that shape public perceptions of risk.
No demographic divide in U.S. responses
Within the United States, the survey found no statistically significant differences by gender, age, education level or political affiliation when respondents were asked whether politics is the primary threat to their safety.
Republicans, Democrats and independents all reported comparable levels of concern, indicating the perception cuts across traditional demographic lines.
This lack of a clear partisan split suggests the anxiety is rooted more in the general climate of polarization than in allegiance to any single party.
Researchers note that while individuals referenced different political actors as the source of danger, the underlying theme reported by many was the heightened hostility and divisiveness of current politics.
Voices from Americans: polarization and fear of extremism
Respondents quoted in the survey described a sense that intense partisanship and ideological rigidity increase the likelihood of confrontation and even violence.
People from different political backgrounds pointed to opposing actors when asked whom they saw as the source of risk, but many converged on a shared worry about political extremes and social breakdown.
Some respondents framed their concern in terms of the general political climate rather than a direct personal threat, saying that escalating rhetoric and entrenched positions make public life feel less safe.
Others highlighted fears that supporters of extreme views might resort to violent acts, elevating politics from abstract concern to a perceived personal hazard.
Gallup data echoes broader concern about politics and government
Complementary findings from Gallup in 2025 show a related pattern of anxiety about politics and governance in the United States.
Gallup reported that roughly one in three Americans named politics or government as the nation’s most important problem, a share far above the global average of 8%.
Gallup data also indicated a deepening sense of disconnection between citizens and institutions: in 2025, 58% of U.S. adults said the government does not care about them at all, a record-high and an increase of 11 percentage points since 2021.
By contrast, only 4% felt the government cared about them “a lot,” while 38% said it cared “to some extent,” highlighting low levels of political trust alongside heightened concern.
Implications for public safety and civic life
Experts say the combination of high perceived risk from politics and declining faith in institutions could have practical consequences for social cohesion and civic engagement.
When substantial shares of the population believe politics endangers personal safety, authorities and community leaders may face greater challenges in de-escalating tensions and rebuilding trust.
Policy responses usually suggested by analysts include targeted efforts to reduce inflammatory rhetoric, strengthen community policing and support programs that bridge political divides.
Observers emphasize that reversing trends in perceived political risk will likely require sustained efforts from political leaders, media, civil society and local institutions.
Public sentiment in these surveys points to a widening gap between citizens and the political system that, if unaddressed, could shape behavior from voting and protest participation to everyday social interactions.
As the United States and other countries track these attitudes, both government and civic actors will be watching closely for signs that public perceptions of politics as a threat to personal safety are easing or intensifying in the months ahead.