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.
Publications
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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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Where do Americans turn first for information about breaking news?
When a breaking news event happens, 36% of U.S. adults say they typically turn first to their preferred news organization to get more information.
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About 6 in 10 Americans don’t have moral objections to medical aid in dying
Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to call physician-assisted death morally wrong (48% vs. 23%).
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Key findings about Black immigrants in the U.S.
The U.S. Black immigrant population has more than doubled since 2000, reaching 5.6 million in 2024 and now making up 11.4% of the total Black population.
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Majority of Americans prefer spread-out communities with big houses
55% of Americans say they would prefer to live in a community where houses are larger and farther away from amenities – compared to 44% who say the opposite.
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What Do Americans Consider Immoral?
Nine-in-ten Americans say having an affair is wrong. Republicans and Democrats differ sharply on the morality of abortion and homosexuality.
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How Do U.S. Men and Women Spend Their Time?
Explore how Americans spend their time by gender and across age groups.
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Americans are less likely than people in many other countries to see gambling as morally wrong
In many other surveyed countries, about half of adults or more see gambling as immoral. This includes 89% in Indonesia, 83% in India and 71% in Italy.
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Federal workforce shrank 10% in Trump’s first year back in office
The federal workforce shrank by 10.3% in 2025, losing nearly 238,000 workers. Among major agencies, the Education Department and USAID had the steepest cuts.
