This statistic shows the level of political understanding of the public in Great Britain from 1986 to 2012. In 2012, 57 percent of respondents agreed that politics is sometimes too complicated to understand what is going on. The source believes* that this indicates that 57 percent of people feel that the running of the country is beyond the reach of the ordinary person. This could imply that these people are more likely to be politically disengaged or apathetic. The trend over this 26 year period is, though, one of decrease.
Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?*
Characteristic
Percentage of respondents who agreed
2012
57%
2003
60%
1994
70%
1986
69%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Percentage of respondents who agreed69%69%70%70%60%60%57%57%1986199420032012
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
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Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?*
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* Information from the source: The statement "taps into whether the running of the country is seen as something elusive, beyond the reach of the ordinary person." ** Number of respondents: 2012: n = 1,099 (weighted) 2004: n = 4,432 (weighted) 1994: n = 1,140 (weighted) 1986: n = 1,548 (weighted)
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NatCen. (September 2, 2013). Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 07, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/285811/political-understanding-of-the-public-in-great-britain-gb/
NatCen. "Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?*." Chart. September 2, 2013. Statista. Accessed May 07, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/285811/political-understanding-of-the-public-in-great-britain-gb/
NatCen. (2013). Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 07, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/285811/political-understanding-of-the-public-in-great-britain-gb/
NatCen. "Sometimes Politics and Government Seem so Complicated That a Person like Me Cannot Really Understand What Is Going On. Do You Agree with This Statement?*." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Sep 2013, https://www.statista.com/statistics/285811/political-understanding-of-the-public-in-great-britain-gb/
NatCen, Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/285811/political-understanding-of-the-public-in-great-britain-gb/ (last visited May 07, 2025)
Sometimes politics and government seem so complicated that a person like me cannot really understand what is going on. Do you agree with this statement?* [Graph], NatCen, September 2, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/285811/political-understanding-of-the-public-in-great-britain-gb/
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