New survey data from Gallup shows that the number of Americans who take pride in the their country remains near all-time lows.
The number of U.S. adults who consider themselves “extremely proud” to be an American is at just 39 percent, barely changed from last year’s record low 38 percent. The combined 67 percent of Americans who are either extremely or “very proud” also aligns with the historically low number of 65 percent a year ago, according to Gallup’s latest survey data on the topic.
When Gallup began taking the survey in January 2001 — about nine months prior to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, where 2,977 Americans perished — 55 percent of U.S. adults were extremely proud to be an American.
During the two years following the attacks on 9/11, pride swelled from between 65 to 75 percent.
“The percentage of Americans expressing extreme pride declined in 2005 and in subsequent years, but it remained at the majority level through 2017,” Gallup noted. “Since 2018, extreme pride has consistently been below that, averaging 42%.”
According to the survey results, “political affiliation is the greatest demographic differentiator in expressions of national pride,” with Republicans consistently being more likely than Democrats and independents to show pride in being American.
In the latest poll, 60 percent of Republicans and 29 percent of Democrats expressed extreme pride in being American, Gallup added, a figure statistically similar to last year’s data. Among independents, 33 percent express extreme pride in the U.S.
Age is also a differentiating factor, with U.S. adults 55 and older reporting they are extremely proud to be an American, while just 40 percent of people ages 35 to 54 agree.
Gallup’s survey data overlaps survey results showing that Americans’ confidence in key institutions has plummeted and hit a record low.
Since last year, Americans have expressed historically low confidence in the Supreme Court, presidency, and Congress, gallup previously reported. The military and small business were the only institutions in which more than half of Americans expressed confidence.
