Most Americans think the country’s best days are behind us
Among U.S. adults …
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown.
Source: Question about satisfaction comes from a survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026. Question about country’s best years comes from a survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Most Americans think the country’s best days are behind us
Among U.S. adults …
| Satisfied | Dissatisfied | |
|---|---|---|
| All in all, they are __ with the way things are going in this country today (Jan 2026) | 29% | 69% |
| Ahead of us | Behind us | |
| Thinking about the future of the U.S., they think the country’s best years are … (Dec 2025) | 40% | 59% |
Note: Those who did not answer are not shown.
Source: Question about satisfaction comes from a survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 20-26, 2026. Question about country’s best years comes from a survey of U.S. adults conducted Dec. 8-14, 2025.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
