--- title: "Younger Americans are less likely than others to support an active role for the U.S. in world affairs" description: "Overall, 53% of Americans say it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs." date: "2025-12-22" authors: - name: "Shanay Gracia" job_title: "Research Analyst" link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/shanay-gracia/" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/12/22/younger-americans-are-less-likely-than-others-to-support-an-active-role-for-the-us-in-world-affairs/" categories: - "Defense & National Security" - "International Affairs" --- # Younger Americans are less likely than others to support an active role for the U.S. in world affairs As has been the case in recent years, younger adults continue to be much less likely than older adults to place importance on the United States taking an active role on the world stage. **How we did this** Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to understand how the United States public views the country’s role in international relations. For this analysis, we surveyed 10,357 U.S. adults from Nov. 17 to 30, 2025. Everyone who took part in this survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), a group of people recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses who have agreed to take surveys regularly. This kind of recruitment gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection. Interviews were conducted either online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, presidential vote (among voters) and other factors. [Read more about the ATP’s methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/the-american-trends-panel/). Here are the [questions used for this analysis](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/SR_25.12.22_ForeignPolicy_questionnaire.pdf), the [topline](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/SR_25.12.22_ForeignPolicy_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/SR_25.12.10_HealthCare_methodology.pdf). #### How important is it for the U.S. to be active internationally? ### Younger adults are much less likely than older adults to say U.S. should take an active role in world affairs *% who say it is __ important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs* | | Extremely | Very | Somewhat | Not too | Not at all | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total | 19 | 35 | 36 | 8 | 3 | Total | | Ages 18-29 | 10 | 29 | 41 | 14 | 5 | Age | | 30-49 | 14 | 30 | 43 | 9 | 3 | Age | | 50-64 | 22 | 37 | 33 | 6 | 1 | Age | | 65+ | 30 | 43 | 24 | 2 | 1 | Age | | Rep/Lean Rep | 17 | 34 | 37 | 9 | 3 | Party | | Dem/Lean Dem | 22 | 37 | 33 | 6 | 2 | Party | Note: No answer responses are not shown.Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Nov. 17-30, 2025. Overall, 53% of Americans say it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted Nov. 17-30, 2025, among 10,357 adults. Younger adults are much less likely than their elders to value active U.S. engagement in world affairs: - 39% of adults ages 18 to 29 and 44% of those 30 to 49 say it is extremely or very important that the U.S. play an active role in world affairs. - By comparison, 59% of those 50 to 64 and 73% of those 65 and older say the same. Partisan differences on this question are much more modest: - 59% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to play an active role, as do 50% of Republicans and Republican leaners. - Just 8% of Democrats and 12% of Republicans say it is not too or not at all important for the U.S. to be active in international affairs. #### How important is America’s military superpower status? Overall, 38% of adults say that in the future it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world. A third say this is somewhat important, while 27% say it is not too or not at all important. Younger adults are far less likely than older adults to prioritize the U.S. maintaining military superiority over other countries. For example, a quarter of adults under 30 view this as important. This rises to 52% among those 65 and older. ### Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say it’s important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower *% who say that in the future it is __ important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world* | | Extremely | Very | Somewhat | Not too | Not at all | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Total | 16 | 21 | 33 | 19 | 9 | Total | | Ages 18-29 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 26 | 14 | Age | | 30-49 | 14 | 18 | 35 | 21 | 10 | Age | | 50-64 | 19 | 25 | 32 | 17 | 6 | Age | | 65+ | 23 | 28 | 32 | 11 | 4 | Age | | Rep/Lean Rep | 25 | 28 | 30 | 11 | 4 | Party | | Dem/Lean Dem | 8 | 17 | 35 | 26 | 12 | Party | Note: No answer responses are not shown.Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Nov. 17-30, 2025. There is also a wide partisan gap on this measure, with Republicans about twice as likely as Democrats (53% vs. 25%) to say it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to be the sole military superpower in the future. #### In both parties, views on U.S. involvement in world affairs differ by age In both partisan coalitions, younger adults are less likely than older adults to say it is important that the U.S. take an active role in international affairs and for the country to be the sole global superpower. ##### How important is it for the U.S. to be active internationally? ### Large age differences in both parties in views of United States’ role abroad and its military power *% who say ...* | Category | Group | Total | Rep/Lean Rep | Dem/Lean Dem | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | It is important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs | Total | 53 | 50 | 59 | | It is important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs | Ages 18-29 | 39 | 38 | 42 | | It is important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs | Ages 30-49 | 44 | 38 | 52 | | It is important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs | Ages 50-64 | 59 | 55 | 67 | | It is important for the U.S. to take an active role in world affairs | Ages 65+ | 73 | 72 | 77 | | It is important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world | Total | 38 | 53 | 25 | | It is important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world | Ages 18-29 | 25 | 38 | 16 | | It is important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world | Ages 30-49 | 32 | 46 | 22 | | It is important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world | Ages 50-64 | 44 | 58 | 30 | | It is important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the world | Ages 65+ | 52 | 69 | 35 | Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Nov. 17-30, 2025. Among Republicans, 38% of those under 50 say it is at extremely or very important for the U.S. to be active in international relations. This figure rises to 63% among Republicans ages 50 and older. Among Democrats, 48% of those under 50 express this view, compared with a much larger share (72%) of Democrats ages 50 and older. ##### How important is America’s military superpower status? Younger Republicans are also less likely than older Republicans to say it is extremely or very important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower in the future: 43% of Republicans under 50 say this, compared with 63% of Republicans 50 and older. In every age group, Democrats are far less likely than Republicans to say American military dominance is important. But the age pattern is similar – though less pronounced – among Democrats. Just 16% of Democrats under 30 say it’s extremely or very important for the U.S. to be the only military superpower, compared with 35% of Democrats 65 and older. *Note: Here are the [questions used for this analysis](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/SR_25.12.22_ForeignPolicy_questionnaire.pdf), the [topline](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/SR_25.12.22_ForeignPolicy_topline.pdf) and the [survey methodology](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2025/12/SR_25.12.10_HealthCare_methodology.pdf).*