--- title: "13 data milestones for 2013" description: "In the course of conducting public opinion surveys and demographic analyses, the Pew Research Center found a wide range of data milestones, breakthroughs, peaks and valleys in 2013." date: "2013-12-23" authors: - name: "Andrea Caumont" job_title: "Associate Director, Digital Outreach" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/andrea-caumont/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/12/23/13-data-milestones-for-2013/" --- # 13 data milestones for 2013 In the course of conducting public opinion surveys and demographic analyses, the Pew Research Center found a wide range of data milestones, breakthroughs, peaks and valleys in 2013, including record support for same-sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana; record levels of distrust of the federal government; record numbers of mothers who were the primary breadwinners for their families; and record numbers of Millennials living with their parents. Here is a look at the highs and lows Americans reached this year, according to our data. 1Just over half (51%) of the public now [favors same-sex marriage](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/in-gay-marriage-debate-both-supporters-and-opponents-see-legal-recognition-as-inevitable/), while 42% are opposed. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/06/6-6-13-6.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/section-1-same-sex-marriage-civil-unions-and-inevitability/) 2A majority of Americans (52%) now [favor legalizing the use of marijuana](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/). [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/04/4-4-13-1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/04/04/majority-now-supports-legalizing-marijuana/) 3A majority agrees the U.S. should [mind its own business internationally](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/12/03/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips/), the highest measure in nearly a half century of polling. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/12/12-3-2013-2.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/12/03/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips/) 4The share of Americans saying they [do not want their own representative in Congress reelected](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/10/15/record-anti-incumbent-sentiment-ahead-of-2014-elections/) – 38% – is at its highest point in two decades. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/10/10-15-13-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/10/15/record-anti-incumbent-sentiment-ahead-of-2014-elections/) 5For the first time, a majority of the public (53%) says that the federal government [threatens their personal rights and freedoms](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/31/majority-says-the-federal-government-threatens-their-personal-rights/). [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2013/01/PP_13.01.31_Threat-Personal-Freedom_260x260.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/01/31/majority-says-the-federal-government-threatens-their-personal-rights/) 636% of the nation’s young adults ages 18 to 31—the so-called Millennial generation— [now live in their parents’ home](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/08/01/a-rising-share-of-young-adults-live-in-their-parents-home/), the highest share in at least four decades. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/07/SDT-millennials-with-parents-08-2013-02.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/08/01/a-rising-share-of-young-adults-live-in-their-parents-home/) 7A record 40% of all households with children under the age of 18 include mothers who are either [the sole or primary source of income](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/05/29/breadwinner-moms/) for the family. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/05/SDT-2013-05-breadwinner-moms-1-1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/05/29/breadwinner-moms/) 8The U.S., which has a total population of 317 million, is now home to a [record 40.4 million immigrants](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2013/01/29/a-nation-of-immigrants/). [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2013/01/PHC-2013-01-SP-01.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2013/01/29/a-nation-of-immigrants/) 9A record seven-in-ten (69%) Hispanic high school graduates in the class of 2012 [enrolled in college that fall](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2013/05/09/hispanic-high-school-graduates-pass-whites-in-rate-of-college-enrollment/), two percentage points higher than the rate (67%) among their white counterparts. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2013/05/PHC-2013-05-college-enrollment-03.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2013/05/09/hispanic-high-school-graduates-pass-whites-in-rate-of-college-enrollment/) 10The percentage of Americans who say the U.S. plays a more important and powerful role as a world leader than it did 10 years ago has [fallen to a 40-year low](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/12/03/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips/) of just 17%. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/12/12-3-2013-1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/12/03/public-sees-u-s-power-declining-as-support-for-global-engagement-slips/) 11The percentage of American Catholics [calling themselves “strong” Catholics](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/03/13/strong-catholic-identity-at-a-four-decade-low-in-us/) is at a four-decade low. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2013/03/strong-cath-id-1.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/03/13/strong-catholic-identity-at-a-four-decade-low-in-us/) 12For the first time since Pew Research Center began tracking smartphone adoption, a majority of Americans [now own a smartphone of some kind](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/Reports/2013/Smartphone-Ownership-2013/Findings.aspx). [![](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/Reports/2013/Smartphone-Ownership-2013/~/media/6DE83111C21C45949BCF98098EFA409A.jpg?w=510&h=442&as=1)](http://pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/internet/Reports/2013/Smartphone-Ownership-2013/Findings.aspx) 1350% of the public [now cites the internet](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/08/08/amid-criticism-support-for-medias-watchdog-role-stands-out/) as a main source for national and international news. [![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/2-Main-Source-for-News.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/08/08/amid-criticism-support-for-medias-watchdog-role-stands-out/) *Browse all [Pew Research Center 2013 reports](https://www.pewresearch.org/category/publications/2013/) by topic area and read our timeline of [the year in public opinion](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/12/18/public-views-on-20-big-stories-of-2013/).*