In the year of America’s 250th birthday, fewer Americans say they have pride in their country than in the past quarter century.
Gallup published its newest survey on the number of Americans who are proud of their country. Only 33% of Americans say they are “extremely proud” to be an American. That’s the lowest figure among Gallup’s polling on the issue dating back to 2001. Just 20% say they are “very proud.”
Another 22% of Americans are “moderately proud” of the nation, 15% are “only a little proud” and 9% are “not at all proud.”
“When Gallup first asked this question in 2001, 55% of U.S. adults were extremely proud to be American. Pride surged after 9/11, with 65% to 70% of Americans expressing extreme pride through 2004,” said the Gallup report on the latest poll.
“Extreme pride declined after that but held at majority levels through 2017. Since 2018, no more than 47% of U.S. adults have said they are extremely proud.”
Political leanings defined the perception of national pride, with registered independents and Democrats at new low points.
Some 28% of independents and only 14% of Democrats say they are extremely proud to be Americans. Conversely, 70% of Republicans say they’re extremely proud. While that’s high, it’s 7 points down from last year for members of the GOP. Democrats’ share declined by 6 points. Independents were statistically unchanged.
Actions taken to express pride are also sliding. Only 43% of all Americans say they display the U.S. flag outside their home on national holidays or other days. That figure has remained consistent though, according to Gallup researchers. That’s an identical reading to a similar poll taken in 1996.
“Pride has been falling for two decades, but the pace has quickened in recent years, with the latest reading down eight points from last year alone, one of the largest single-year drops in the trend,” Gallup researchers concluded. “This casts some uncertainty over how Americans will engage with the country’s 250th anniversary festivities.”
