A majority of Americans say the country’s best years are behind us
Americans are also much more pessimistic (44%) than optimistic (28%) when asked to think about what things will be like in the U.S. 50 years from now.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Americans stand out internationally for their pessimism about the nation’s political system
People in higher-income countries are generally less likely to say their nation’s political system needs major changes or complete reform. Americans are an exception.
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Multiple indicators show a decline in the health of America’s democracy in 2025
Most Americans say democracy in the United States used to be a good example for other countries to follow but has not been in recent years.
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How often does the Supreme Court overturn its own decisions?
Fewer than 1% of Supreme Court cases have overturned an older decision. More than half of these cases concerned economic activity or criminal procedure.
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The United States at 250: How the Country Has Changed in the Past 50 Years
As America turns 250, explore how demographics, work, family and economics have shifted since 1976, based on 50 years of Census data.
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How Americans view racial diversity ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary
75% of U.S. adults see diversity as a good thing for the country, but Democrats and Republicans differ sharply on how diversity impacts the country’s culture.
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Stark partisan divide in who thinks their side is winning and losing in politics
In the 10 years that we have asked this question, Americans overall have consistently been more likely to say their side is losing than to say it’s winning.
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6 facts about national pride in the U.S.
Republicans and Democrats tend to highlight different sources of pride – a partisan divide that is not as pronounced in most other countries.
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Nearly 4 in 10 Americans wish they had options beyond the Republican and Democratic parties
Democrats and Democratic leaners are more likely than Republicans and GOP leaners to say they want more parties (46% vs. 29%).
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U.S. stands out globally in how it draws legislative districts
Among 107 democracies, we found that only one other country uses the same redistricting approach as the U.S.
