GE. Listyo Sigit Prabowo Chief of Indonesia Police said the country’s strong showing in Gallup’s Global Safety Report reflects growing public confidence in law enforcement. Photo courtesy of TEMPO.
WORLD

Indonesia’s safety progress signals rising public trust

Eliana Lacap

Indonesia’s inclusion among the world’s safer nations in Gallup’s 2025 Global Safety Report is emerging as more than a statistical milestone—it is increasingly seen as a reflection of social confidence and institutional credibility.

Gallup’s Law and Order Index placed Indonesia 19th worldwide with a score of 89, surpassing countries such as Japan and the United States. The survey, which gathered responses from tens of thousands of adults globally, also found that 83 percent of Indonesians feel safe walking alone at night, placing the country 25th worldwide and pointing to a level of day-to-day security that citizens themselves acknowledge.

National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo said the ranking signals growing trust in law enforcement, a view echoed in domestic studies such as Kompas Research and Development’s survey, which placed the National Police among the most trusted national institutions.

What makes the recognition particularly significant is that Gallup’s index does not merely measure crime—it measures lived experience. It captures whether people feel secure in their communities, whether they trust their police, and whether their sense of order is stable enough to allow daily life to function with confidence.

In Indonesia’s case, the data suggest that reforms, visible policing efforts, and a broader push for institutional accountability are resonating with the public. The findings also align with a narrative of improving social stability that officials often link to economic resilience, investor confidence, and regional competitiveness.

Still, officials emphasized that the achievement is not an endpoint. Prabowo himself urged police not to become complacent, calling instead for continuous evaluation and reform.

While public trust is rising, maintaining it requires sustained performance, transparency, and attentiveness to evolving security challenges, particularly in urban centers and digitally driven environments where perceptions can shift quickly.

For now, Indonesia’s strong showing in the Gallup report suggests a country where safety is not only stated in official reports but increasingly felt on the ground by its people—a form of national confidence that may prove as meaningful as the ranking itself.