On the Country’s 250th Anniversary, the American People Are in a Sour Mood
Still, many express some optimism: Most people say they feel “hopeful” and 54% say they’re “happy” when thinking about the future.
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Americans are more dissatisfied with how their democracy is working than people in other high-income countries
A large majority of Democrats (86%) are dissatisfied with how American democracy is working. Around half of Republicans (51%) say the same.
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A majority of Americans say the country’s best years are behind us
Americans are also much more pessimistic (44%) than optimistic (28%) when asked to think about what things will be like in the U.S. 50 years from now.
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Americans stand out internationally for their pessimism about the nation’s political system
People in higher-income countries are generally less likely to say their nation’s political system needs major changes or complete reform. Americans are an exception.
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Multiple indicators show a decline in the health of America’s democracy in 2025
Most Americans say democracy in the United States used to be a good example for other countries to follow but has not been in recent years.
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The United States at 250: How the Country Has Changed in the Past 50 Years
As America turns 250, explore how demographics, work, family and economics have shifted since 1976, based on 50 years of Census data.
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How Americans view racial diversity ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary
75% of U.S. adults see diversity as a good thing for the country, but Democrats and Republicans differ sharply on how diversity impacts the country’s culture.
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U.S. stands out globally in how it draws legislative districts
Among 107 democracies, we found that only one other country uses the same redistricting approach as the U.S.
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Most Americans think Trump is trying to exercise more power than previous presidents
49% of U.S. adults say Trump is trying to exercise more presidential power than previous presidents and that this is bad for the country.
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Dissatisfaction with democracy remains widespread in many nations
Across 12 high-income countries, a median of 64% of adults say they are dissatisfied with the way their democracy is working, while a median of 35% are satisfied.
