Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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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.

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  • short reads

    Support Gay Marriage

    That’s the number of U.S. adults who support allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry legally; a majority, 55%, are opposed.

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    Changed Views of Women’s Roles

    That’s the percentage of U.S. adults who now reject the idea that women should return to their “traditional roles,” up from 66% in 1987. The percentage completely disagreeing has increased more dramatically — from 29% in 1987 to 51% currently.

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    Say People Determine Own Success

    That’s the percentage of Americans who disagree with the idea that success in life is mostly determined by forces outside a person’s control.

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    Hispanic Catholics Who are Pentecostals or Charismatics

    A majority (54%) of Latino Catholics in the United States identify with renewalist Christianity, meaning they describe themselves as charismatic or pentecostal; the proportion is still higher among Hispanic Protestants (57%).

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    Women Who Say Single Women Can Be Happy

    More than eight-in-ten American women (83%) say that it is possible for a woman to lead a complete and happy life if she remains single; a lesser percentage of men (70%) say the same thing about a man.

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    American Sunni Muslims

    That’s the percentage of American Muslims who identify with Sunni Islam, 22% say they are just Muslim without any particular affiliation, and 16% identify with Shia Islam.

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    States Now Limiting Teens’ Access to Tanning Salons

    That’s the number of states that now place limits on minors seeking a bronze glow from the ultraviolet lights of a tanning bed. Utah, Virginia and North Dakota are the most recent states to join the list.

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    Prefer Smaller Government

    That’s the percentage of Americans who would rather have a smaller government providing fewer services; a statistically equal 43% would prefer a bigger government providing more services.