Key Data Trends
Frequently asked Pew survey questions and data.
National Satisfaction: 18%
Just 18% of Americans say they are satisfied with the way things are going in the country today, according to a late May surevy, down from 22% in March and 27% at the end of 2007; a new low in 20 years of Pew Research Center polling. Previously, the lowest measure of satisfaction was in September 1993 when 20% of Americans were satisfied with the state of the nation. The percent dissatisfied has risen from 66% in December to 76% today, also a record high. While a partisan gap in satisfaction has been particularly large since late 2002, when Democratic satisfaction plummeted and Republicans remained more positive, over the past few months Republican views on the state of the nation have turned more negative. Currently, just 29% of Republicans are satisfied with the state of the nation, an eleven-point drop in just two months, and half the proportion expressing satisfaction in January 2007. Only 8% of Democrats express satisfaction with the country.
Last Updated: 30 May 08
Presidential Approval: 27%
According to an April Pew poll, President Bush's job approval rating is now at 27%, the lowest of his presidency, while almost two-thirds of Americans (65%) now dissaprove of the president's job. While Bush remains unpopular, the new GOP standard bearer, John McCain, remains competitive against both Democrats, buttressed by the fact that voters continue to see him as a centrist whose views are fairly close to their own, and less conservative than Bush's. In contrast, voters place both Clinton and Obama considerably to the left of where they place themselves. These ideological perceptions of the candidates have changed little over the past three months.
Last Updated: 28 Apr 08
Iraq War Wrong Decision: 57%
After a brief positive shift in February, the public's perceptions of the war in Iraq have turned more negative, with disapproval of the intitial decision to use military force reaching a new high of 57%; in addition, 56% of Americans now favor withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq as soon as possible, the highest proportion in nearly a year (56% in June 2007). Opinions about withdrawing U.S. troops -- like other attitudes regarding Iraq -- remain deeply polarized politically. About seven-in-ten Republicans (72%) favor keeping U.S. troops in Iraq until the situation is stable, compared with 40% of independents and just 20% of Democrats. However, support for maintaining U.S. troops in Iraq has slipped among all three groups since February.
Last Updated: 27 Apr 08
Iraq War: Bring Troops Home?: 56%
Significantly fewer Americans now say things are going well in Iraq than did so in February, and support for a quick withdrawal of U.S. forces has climbed by seven points (to 56%), one of several reversals in what appeared to be a positive shift in several of the public's perceptions about the war in Iraq and views of what to do next. For instance, a plurality (48%) now says the United States is losing ground in reducing the number of civilian casualties while 37% say the United States is making progress toward this objective. The balance of opinion on this issue has flipped since February 2008, when 46% said progress was being made and 40% said the United States was losing ground.
Last Updated: 27 Apr 08
Internet Penetration: 73%
Seven-in-ten Americans (73%) are internet users, almost 60 points more than were online in 1995 when only 14% of the country used the internet. A recent Pew Internet Project survey found that although many might assume that the rapid uptake of the internet by businesses was the main driver of growth in the past decade, many respondents (50%) said they first went online for personal reasons, rather than professional or educational reasons.Another 31% said work was the cause of their turning to the internet; 19% said school was the cause. Indeed, the Project's findings since it first began to do national surveys of internet users have shown that the popularity of email use has not changed much, even as the size of the internet population has grown and its demographic composition has changed.
Last Updated: 15 Oct 07
Home Broadband Adoption: 50%
Half of all Americans now have broadband at home, according to the Pew Internet Project's September 2007 survey, marking the first time that as many as 50% of respondents say they have high-speed internet connections at home. Since broadband first became widely available to consumers in the late 1990s, adoption has hit the halfway point faster than most other information and communication technologies. It took 18 years for the personal computer to reach 50% of Americans, 18 years for color TV, 15 years for the cell phone, 14 years for the video cassette recorder, and 10.5 years for the compact disc player. It has taken about 10 years for broadband to reach 50% of adults in their homes.
Last Updated: 15 Sep 07
Democratic Party Favorability: 51%
Despite growing dissatisfaction with the performance of Democratic Congressional leaders, the Democratic Party's overall image has suffered only slightly over the past six months. Slightly more than half (51%) views the party favorably, while 41% holds an unfavorable opinion. In January, the margin was 54% favorable and 35% unfavorable. And the Democratic Party's image remains substantially stronger than the Republican Party's, which has slipped since the start of the year. Currently, a 53% majority holds an unfavorable opinion of the GOP, up from 48% in January.
Last Updated: 25 Jul 07
Republican Party Favorability: 39%
Only 39% of individuals surveyed by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press in July said they held a favorable opinion of the Republican Party. The Republican Party's image has slipped since the start of the year. Currently, a 53% majority holds an unfavorable opinion of the GOP, up from 48% in January.
Last Updated: 25 Jul 07
