A recent Gallup survey examined pride levels among Americans, revealing that 39% of U.S. adults are “extremely proud” to be American, which is about the same as last year’s low of 38%. When adding those who are “very proud,” a total of 67% of Americans express some level of pride, similar to the 65% recorded last year.
The survey, conducted from June 1 to June 22, found that 22% of adults are “moderately proud,” while 7% feel “only a little” proud, and 4% don’t feel proud at all.
Looking back to 2001, when Gallup first asked this question, 55% of U.S. adults said they were extremely proud to be American. This feeling peaked between 2002 and 2004 after the 9/11 tragedy, with around 65% to 70% expressing extreme pride. However, since 2005, the percentage of Americans feeling extremely proud has declined, dropping below the majority level since 2018, averaging at 42%.
The survey also highlighted differences based on political affiliation. Republicans consistently show higher levels of national pride compared to Democrats and independents. Since 2018, the gap has become more significant, with more than twice as many Republicans as Democrats reporting extreme pride. Republicans are also almost twice as likely as independents to express the highest level of pride.
The latest findings show that 60% of Republicans and 29% of Democrats feel extremely proud to be American, similar to last year’s results. Among independents, the current level of extreme pride is 33%, which is also similar to last year but represents a one-percentage-point decrease, marking the lowest on record.
Age is another factor influencing national pride. Half of adults aged 55 and older say they are extremely proud to be American, while only 40% of those aged 35 to 54 and 18% of individuals aged 18 to 34 share the same sentiment. Data from 2020 to 2023 also reveals that younger adults in all party groups feel less pride compared to older adults in their respective parties.
To summarize, although the percentage of U.S. adults reporting extreme pride in their American identity remains close to a record low, when combined with those who are very proud, about two-thirds of Americans still express national pride. Partisan affiliation plays a significant role in these differences, with Republicans more likely to feel proud compared to Democrats. However, age also plays a crucial role, with younger adults across all party groups showing lower levels of pride than older adults.
