This paper analyses emerging data from the United Nations' MY World survey of people’s priorities for the future and how they have voted on governance-related issues. We compare this with a review of available evidence from global perception surveys and participatory research on people’s views and experiences relating to governance. As governance consists of a range of different dimensions, a key objective is to understand whether there are some aspects that seem to matter more to people than others, and to identify associated trends. Based on findings emerging from the data, we reflect on what this may imply for governments and for post-2015 development goals.