Utah continues to demonstrate high levels of social capital—defined as the value of social networks and trust within communities—but recent trends suggest declines in civic engagement may threaten that strength, according to new research from the Utah Foundation.
The two-part report, released in June and July, highlights how Utahns benefit from strong community ties, family networks, and social trust. These attributes contribute to better education, health outcomes, economic mobility, and disaster resilience.
“Social capital is a key measure of whether Utahns are thriving,” the Utah Foundation noted in its June report. “It enables individuals to access resources through their networks, and these cumulative individual benefits ultimately produce expansive societal benefits.”
The report explains social capital as consisting of three forms: bonding (close relationships within groups), bridging (connections across diverse backgrounds), and linking (relationships between people and institutions of power). Utah scores relatively high in each of these areas, thanks in part to a culture of collaboration and shared values.
But the July follow-up report, focusing on civic engagement, points to warning signs.
Utah once ranked 13th in the nation for voter turnout following the implementation of universal vote-by-mail in 2018. However, that momentum has slowed. In 2024, Utah ranked 26th, with further declines anticipated after a law passed this year (HB300) will roll back automatic mail-in voting by 2029.
Attendance at public meetings—another key civic indicator—has also slipped. Utah was ranked third in the nation in 2019 but dropped to 10th by 2023.
Advocacy funding, measured by dollars donated to or raised by advocacy organizations per $1,000 of personal income, remains one of Utah’s weakest categories. The state ranked 43rd nationwide in 2022.
Despite these drops, Utah still performs better than many Mountain West states.
“Across the Utah Foundation’s indicators of civic engagement, Utah ranks among the top ten for one measure, among the median for another, and among the bottom ten for a third,” researchers wrote.
Cache Valley and other parts of Northern Utah were not specifically analyzed in isolation, but they remain key contributors to Utah’s high levels of bonding social capital due to strong family ties, religious activity, and close-knit communities.
The reports suggest that investing in civic education, encouraging cross-community collaboration, and expanding access to advocacy resources could help strengthen Utah’s civic participation and bolster social capital long-term.
View Article