Looking ahead to 2050, the youngest adults tend to be less optimistic than the oldest adults
Looking ahead 25 years, % of U.S. adults who say that by 2050 …
| Ages 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race relations will improve | 43 | 47 | 50 | 58 |
| They are very/somewhat optimistic | 42 | 46 | 51 | 55 |
| The U.S. system of government will work better | 37 | 42 | 46 | 53 |
| The U.S. economy will be stronger | 36 | 41 | 45 | 50 |
| The U.S. will be a safer place to live | 37 | 39 | 42 | 48 |
| The U.S. will be more important in the world | 41 | 35 | 42 | 42 |
| The country will be less politically divided | 24 | 31 | 35 | 41 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Looking ahead to 2050, the youngest adults tend to be less optimistic than the oldest adults
Looking ahead 25 years, % of U.S. adults who say that by 2050 …
| Ages 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Race relations will improve | 43% | 47% | 50% | 58% |
| They are very/somewhat optimistic | 42% | 46% | 51% | 55% |
| The U.S. system of government will work better | 37% | 42% | 46% | 53% |
| The U.S. economy will be stronger | 36% | 41% | 45% | 50% |
| The U.S. will be a safer place to live | 37% | 39% | 42% | 48% |
| The U.S. will be more important in the world | 41% | 35% | 42% | 42% |
| The country will be less politically divided | 24% | 31% | 35% | 41% |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 6-12, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
