National pride hits historic low as Gallup poll reveals deep divides in American patriotism
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jul 01, 2025, 01:08 IST
( Image credit : TIL Creatives, TOIGLOBAL )
A recent Gallup poll reveals a significant decline in American patriotism. Only 58% of adults express strong pride, a sharp drop from last year. The decline is most pronounced among Democrats and younger generations. Republicans maintain high levels of patriotism. Generational differences highlight a growing divide. The poll indicates a deeply divided nation as Independence Day approaches.
Just days before the Fourth of July celebrations, a new Gallup poll has delivered startling news about the state of American patriotism. Only 58% of U.S. adults now say they feel “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, marking a sharp 9-point drop from last year and the lowest level Gallup has recorded since it began tracking this sentiment in 2001.
This historic decline is primarily due to a steep fall in the number of people identifying as “very proud,” which dropped from 26% in 2024 to just 17% this year. Meanwhile, those who are “extremely proud” have remained steady at 41%. Gallup, a respected public opinion research organization, conducts these surveys using scientifically selected random samples to accurately reflect the views of U.S. adults on a broad range of social, political, and economic topics.
The plunge in national pride is most dramatic among Democrats. Only 36% of Democrats now express strong pride in their country — a stunning 26-point decline from 62% just a year ago, and the lowest figure Gallup has ever recorded for this group. In contrast, 92% of Republicans report feeling “extremely” or “very” proud, an increase of 7 points from last year that continues a two-decade trend of high patriotism among GOP supporters. Independents also showed a decline, with 53% expressing strong pride, down from 60% in 2024.
Generational differences further highlight this divide. Just 41% of Gen Z adults (born 1997–2012) report strong pride in being American, compared with 58% of Millennials and more than 70% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Jeffrey Jones, Gallup’s senior editor, observed, “Each generation is less patriotic than the prior generation, and Gen Z is definitely much lower than anybody else. Even among older generations, patriotism is declining — primarily driven by Democrats within those age groups.”
American pride once peaked in the early 2000s, with 87% of Americans reporting strong pride in 2001. For years following, levels hovered in the high 80s and low 90s before beginning a steady decline. Today’s 58% is a new low, surpassing the previous record low of 63% set in 2020.
The poll, conducted between June 2 and 19, surveyed 1,000 adults nationwide and carries a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. As the nation prepares for Independence Day festivities, these numbers reveal a deeply divided country where feelings of patriotism vary widely by political party and generation, reflecting broader cultural and political shifts.
This evolving landscape of American pride poses important questions about the country’s unity and identity in the years ahead. How these trends will shape the national conversation remains to be seen — but the data clearly signals that the America many once celebrated as “great” feels very different today.
This historic decline is primarily due to a steep fall in the number of people identifying as “very proud,” which dropped from 26% in 2024 to just 17% this year. Meanwhile, those who are “extremely proud” have remained steady at 41%. Gallup, a respected public opinion research organization, conducts these surveys using scientifically selected random samples to accurately reflect the views of U.S. adults on a broad range of social, political, and economic topics.
The plunge in national pride is most dramatic among Democrats. Only 36% of Democrats now express strong pride in their country — a stunning 26-point decline from 62% just a year ago, and the lowest figure Gallup has ever recorded for this group. In contrast, 92% of Republicans report feeling “extremely” or “very” proud, an increase of 7 points from last year that continues a two-decade trend of high patriotism among GOP supporters. Independents also showed a decline, with 53% expressing strong pride, down from 60% in 2024.
Generational differences further highlight this divide. Just 41% of Gen Z adults (born 1997–2012) report strong pride in being American, compared with 58% of Millennials and more than 70% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. Jeffrey Jones, Gallup’s senior editor, observed, “Each generation is less patriotic than the prior generation, and Gen Z is definitely much lower than anybody else. Even among older generations, patriotism is declining — primarily driven by Democrats within those age groups.”
American pride once peaked in the early 2000s, with 87% of Americans reporting strong pride in 2001. For years following, levels hovered in the high 80s and low 90s before beginning a steady decline. Today’s 58% is a new low, surpassing the previous record low of 63% set in 2020.
The poll, conducted between June 2 and 19, surveyed 1,000 adults nationwide and carries a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points. As the nation prepares for Independence Day festivities, these numbers reveal a deeply divided country where feelings of patriotism vary widely by political party and generation, reflecting broader cultural and political shifts.
This evolving landscape of American pride poses important questions about the country’s unity and identity in the years ahead. How these trends will shape the national conversation remains to be seen — but the data clearly signals that the America many once celebrated as “great” feels very different today.