How views of the problems facing the nation have shifted over time
% who say ___ is a very big problem for the country today
Inflation
The role of money in politics
The affordability
of health care
The ability of Dems/Reps
to work together
The federal budget deficit
Drug addiction
Gun violence
Violent crime
Climate change
International terrorism
Illegal immigration
Domestic terrorism
Unemployment
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 20-26, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
How views of the problems facing the nation have shifted over time
% who say ___ is a very big problem for the country today
| Date | Issue | Total | Rep/Lean Rep | Dem/Lean Dem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-26 | The affordability of healthcare | 73% | 60% | 85% |
| 2025-02-01 | The affordability of healthcare | 67% | 61% | 73% |
| 2024-05-19 | The affordability of healthcare | 57% | 48% | 65% |
| 2023-06-11 | The affordability of healthcare | 64% | 54% | 73% |
| 2022-05-01 | The affordability of healthcare | 55% | 42% | 65% |
| 2021-04-11 | The affordability of healthcare | 56% | 40% | 69% |
| 2020-06-22 | The affordability of healthcare | 57% | 39% | 72% |
| 2019-09-15 | The affordability of healthcare | 66% | 51% | 77% |
| 2019-03-04 | The affordability of healthcare | 67% | 56% | 74% |
| 2018-10-07 | The affordability of healthcare | 70% | 58% | 79% |
| 2026-04-26 | The federal budget deficit | 64% | 62% | 66% |
| 2025-11-01 | The federal budget deficit | 56% | 59% | 52% |
| 2025-02-01 | The federal budget deficit | 57% | 66% | 47% |
| 2024-05-19 | The federal budget deficit | 53% | 71% | 35% |
| 2023-06-11 | The federal budget deficit | 56% | 72% | 39% |
| 2022-05-01 | The federal budget deficit | 51% | 69% | 35% |
| 2021-07-18 | The federal budget deficit | 50% | 70% | 34% |
| 2021-04-11 | The federal budget deficit | 49% | 71% | 31% |
| 2020-06-22 | The federal budget deficit | 47% | 49% | 45% |
| 2019-09-15 | The federal budget deficit | 53% | 54% | 52% |
| 2018-10-07 | The federal budget deficit | 55% | 56% | 53% |
| 2026-04-01 | Inflation | 66% | 55% | 74% |
| 2025-02-01 | Inflation | 63% | 73% | 53% |
| 2024-05-01 | Inflation | 62% | 80% | 46% |
| 2023-06-01 | Inflation | 65% | 77% | 52% |
| 2022-05-01 | Inflation | 70% | 84% | 57% |
| 2026-04-26 | Unemployment | 36% | 25% | 45% |
| 2025-02-01 | Unemployment | 25% | 21% | 27% |
| 2024-05-19 | Unemployment | 25% | 27% | 22% |
| 2023-06-11 | Unemployment | 24% | 23% | 23% |
| 2022-05-01 | Unemployment | 23% | 22% | 21% |
| 2021-04-11 | Unemployment | 41% | 36% | 45% |
| 2020-06-22 | Unemployment | 50% | 36% | 61% |
| 2026-04-26 | The ability of Dems/Reps to work together | 64% | 60% | 69% |
| 2025-02-01 | The ability of Dems/Reps to work together | 56% | 48% | 64% |
| 2024-05-19 | The ability of Dems/Reps to work together | 60% | 57% | 63% |
| 2023-06-11 | The ability of Dems/Reps to work together | 62% | 63% | 62% |
| 2018-12-10 | The ability of Dems/Reps to work together | 62% | 65% | 62% |
| 2026-04-26 | Role of money in politics | 74% | 70% | 79% |
| 2025-02-01 | Role of money in politics | 72% | 66% | 78% |
| 2026-04-26 | Drug addiction | 55% | 62% | 48% |
| 2025-02-01 | Drug addiction | 51% | 54% | 46% |
| 2024-05-19 | Drug addiction | 55% | 60% | 50% |
| 2023-06-11 | Drug addiction | 61% | 64% | 56% |
| 2019-09-15 | Drug addiction | 64% | 68% | 61% |
| 2019-03-04 | Drug addiction | 70% | 71% | 68% |
| 2018-10-07 | Drug addiction | 68% | 68% | 66% |
| 2016-11-08 | Drug addiction | 56% | 58% | 55% |
| 2026-04-26 | Illegal immigration | 38% | 60% | 17% |
| 2025-11-01 | Illegal immigration | 36% | 60% | 14% |
| 2025-02-01 | Illegal immigration | 48% | 73% | 23% |
| 2024-05-19 | Illegal immigration | 51% | 78% | 27% |
| 2023-06-11 | Illegal immigration | 47% | 70% | 25% |
| 2022-05-01 | Illegal immigration | 38% | 65% | 19% |
| 2021-07-18 | Illegal immigration | 43% | 66% | 23% |
| 2021-04-11 | Illegal immigration | 48% | 72% | 29% |
| 2020-06-22 | Illegal immigration | 28% | 43% | 15% |
| 2019-09-15 | Illegal immigration | 43% | 67% | 23% |
| 2019-03-04 | Illegal immigration | 38% | 65% | 18% |
| 2018-10-07 | Illegal immigration | 42% | 67% | 23% |
| 2016-11-08 | Illegal immigration | 44% | 67% | 25% |
| 2026-04-26 | Gun violence | 49% | 27% | 68% |
| 2025-11-01 | Gun violence | 50% | 30% | 68% |
| 2025-02-01 | Gun violence | 48% | 26% | 69% |
| 2024-05-19 | Gun violence | 49% | 27% | 68% |
| 2023-06-11 | Gun violence | 60% | 38% | 81% |
| 2022-05-01 | Gun violence | 51% | 27% | 70% |
| 2021-04-11 | Gun violence | 48% | 18% | 73% |
| 2018-10-07 | Gun violence | 53% | 29% | 72% |
| 2016-11-08 | Gun violence | 48% | 29% | 64% |
| 2026-04-26 | Violent crime | 47% | 55% | 38% |
| 2025-11-01 | Violent crime | 44% | 50% | 36% |
| 2025-02-01 | Violent crime | 47% | 55% | 37% |
| 2024-05-19 | Violent crime | 48% | 56% | 39% |
| 2023-06-11 | Violent crime | 59% | 64% | 52% |
| 2022-05-01 | Violent crime | 54% | 60% | 47% |
| 2021-07-18 | Violent crime | 61% | 67% | 55% |
| 2021-04-11 | Violent crime | 48% | 52% | 44% |
| 2020-06-22 | Violent crime | 41% | 44% | 37% |
| 2019-03-04 | Violent crime | 49% | 50% | 47% |
| 2018-10-07 | Violent crime | 52% | 51% | 49% |
| 2026-04-26 | Climate change | 39% | 14% | 63% |
| 2025-11-01 | Climate change | 36% | 11% | 59% |
| 2025-02-01 | Climate change | 41% | 13% | 67% |
| 2024-05-19 | Climate change | 36% | 12% | 58% |
| 2023-06-11 | Climate change | 39% | 14% | 64% |
| 2022-05-01 | Climate change | 42% | 16% | 63% |
| 2021-07-18 | Climate change | 47% | 19% | 71% |
| 2021-04-11 | Climate change | 40% | 14% | 61% |
| 2020-06-22 | Climate change | 40% | 13% | 62% |
| 2019-09-15 | Climate change | 48% | 17% | 73% |
| 2019-03-04 | Climate change | 46% | 16% | 69% |
| 2018-10-07 | Climate change | 43% | 19% | 62% |
| 2016-11-08 | Climate change | 40% | 17% | 61% |
| 2026-04-26 | International terrorism | 38% | 46% | 29% |
| 2025-02-01 | International terrorism | 36% | 41% | 29% |
| 2024-05-19 | International terrorism | 31% | 41% | 22% |
| 2023-06-11 | International terrorism | 30% | 36% | 23% |
| 2021-04-11 | International terrorism | 26% | 28% | 24% |
| 2026-04-26 | Domestic terrorism | 36% | 39% | 33% |
| 2025-02-01 | Domestic terrorism | 34% | 32% | 36% |
| 2024-05-19 | Domestic terrorism | 29% | 30% | 27% |
| 2023-06-11 | Domestic terrorism | 34% | 25% | 41% |
| 2021-04-11 | Domestic terrorism | 35% | 27% | 44% |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 20-26, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Money in politics, health care affordability rank as top national problems
% who say ___ is a very big problem for the country today
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 20-26, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Money in politics, health care affordability rank as top national problems
% who say ___ is a very big problem for the country today
| Percent | |
|---|---|
| The role of money in politics | 74% |
| The affordability of health care | 73% |
| Inflation | 66% |
| The ability of Dems/Reps to work together in Washington | 64% |
| The federal budget deficit | 64% |
| Drug addiction | 55% |
| Gun violence | 49% |
| Violent crime | 47% |
| Climate change | 39% |
| International terrorism | 38% |
| Illegal immigration | 38% |
| Domestic terrorism | 36% |
| Unemployment | 36% |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 20-26, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
