In 2025, Utah once again claimed the nation’s highest Social Capital Index score and has remained among the top-performing states for the past 12 years.
The Utah Foundation’s Social Capital Index measures how well a state fosters “social capital”—the networks of relationships and trust that allow individuals and communities to thrive together.
Utah excels largely because it ranks 1st or 2nd nationally in three of the index’s seven key categories: social trust, family health, and community life. Only three other states—Minnesota, Maine, and New Hampshire—place in the top five on more than two sub components.
In the 2025 rankings, Utah clusters with a select group of high-performing Midwestern and Northeastern states, along with its neighbor Colorado.
Utah’s overall score is 82 out of 100, still far above the national average of 44, but it’s currently experiencing a gradual decline from its 2013 peak of 96. Strong social capital is linked to better economic outcomes and reduced strain on public services; why Utah consistently outperforms most of the country even as its score has softened over time. States with higher trust tend to have greater economic activity and growth. This in turn encourages investment, supports fair business practices, and facilitates the emergence of large-scale commercial organizations.
It’s crucial for a state such as Utah to perform well in social trust, family health, and community life because these factors form the basis of high-level social capital. High scores in these areas lead to better overall public health, stronger economic stability, more effective governance, and a greater capacity for a state to respond to challenges.