Short Reads

Short-form data and analysis from Pew Research Center writers and social scientists. To view all our reports and publications, visit our main Publications page.

short readJun 9, 2026

Pew Research Center illustration showing (from left) Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah, Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentina President Javier Milei, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine, U.S. President Donald Trump and Cameroon President Paul Biya. (Getty Images; AFP and Andalou via Getty Images)

As Trump turns 80, only 16 of 186 national leaders are older. The median leader age is 63, while Nepal’s 36-year-old PM is the youngest.

short readJun 17, 2026

short readJun 10, 2026

A Statue of Liberty sculpture is displayed outside a polling station in Arlington, Virginia, on Nov. 4, 2025. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

short readJun 5, 2026

A parishioner prays during the Ash Wednesday service at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver on Feb. 18, 2026. (AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

short readsMay 8, 2012

Majority of Americans Say Churches and Politics Don’t Mix

More than half (54%) of adults say the church should stay out of political matters.
short readsMay 7, 2012

Living with Mom and Dad? It’s a ‘Good’ Thing

Nearly one-in-four (24%) of adults ages 25 to 34 who live with their parents say their living situation has been a ‘good’ thing.
short readsMay 3, 2012

Americans’ View of Local Government More Favorably than Washington

By roughly two-to-one (61% to 31%) most Americans offer a favorable assessment of their local government. In comparison, just 33% have a favorable view of the federal government.
short readsMay 3, 2012

Percentage of Swing Voters Declines Compared to Four Years Ago

About one-in-four (23%) of registered voters today are swing voters, compared to 33% in 2008.
short readsMay 3, 2012

Young Women Surpass Young Men in Career Aspirations

Two-thirds (66%) of women ages 18 to 34 rate career as important on their list of life priorities, compared with 59% of young men.
short readsApr 26, 2012

Women in Combat During the Post-9/11 Wars

Three-in-ten (30%) female veterans say they have served in a combat or war zone since 9/11; that compares to 57% of male veterans say they have done so.
short readsApr 26, 2012

Social Issues Low on Voters’ Minds in 2012

Although it has been a contentious issue in many states, just 28% of voters view gay marriage as a very important issue.
short readsApr 26, 2012

Foreign-Born Workers Top the Native-Born in Employment Growth

Between 2009 and 2011, foreign-born workers experienced a 5.2% increase in employment, from 21.5 million to 22.6 million. In comparison, native-born workers experienced just a 1.8% increase over this same period.
short readsApr 26, 2012

Young Men and Women Differ on the Importance of a Successful Marriage

The percentage of young men (ages 18 to 34) who say a successful marriage is one of the most important things in their lives has dropped six percentage points since 1997, from 35% to 29%. The percentage of young women who put a priority on having a successful marriage has risen during that period.
short readsApr 26, 2012

Record-Low Support for Keeping U.S. Troops in Afghanistan

Just 32% of the public now says that the U.S. should keep troops in Afghanistan until the situation there has stabilized.

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Short Reads

As Trump turns 80, who are the oldest – and youngest – current world leaders?

What the data says about abortion in the U.S.

Americans are more dissatisfied with how their democracy is working than people in other high-income countries

Vance is among 1.5% of Americans who have converted to Catholicism

Majority of Americans Say Churches and Politics Don’t Mix

Living with Mom and Dad? It’s a ‘Good’ Thing

Americans’ View of Local Government More Favorably than Washington

Percentage of Swing Voters Declines Compared to Four Years Ago

Young Women Surpass Young Men in Career Aspirations

Women in Combat During the Post-9/11 Wars

Social Issues Low on Voters’ Minds in 2012

Foreign-Born Workers Top the Native-Born in Employment Growth

Young Men and Women Differ on the Importance of a Successful Marriage

Record-Low Support for Keeping U.S. Troops in Afghanistan

Short Reads

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