Laura Silver

Pew Research Center recently sought to translate more than 11,000 open-ended survey responses into English.

We asked respondents in both countries to, in their own words, define what democracy means to them. Most commonly, people mention three broad concepts: freedom and human rights, elections and procedures, and having a voice in government.

Fewer than 1 million foreign students enrolled for either online or in-person classes at U.S. universities in the 2020-21 school year.

Republicans and Democrats differ substantially over several sources of meaning in life, including faith, freedom, health and hobbies.

Here are six facts about where Americans find meaning in life and how those responses have shifted over the past four years.

Family is preeminent for most publics but work, material well-being and health also play a key role.

Most people view their own government’s record on personal freedoms more favorably than they do when it comes to the U.S. and especially China.

Concerns about racial and ethnic discrimination are widespread in most of the 17 advanced economies surveyed this spring.

The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.

While Americans see some aspects of U.S. power more positively than people elsewhere, they offer more negative views in other areas.