According to recent Gallup polling, the proportion of U.S. adults expressing extreme pride in their American identity remains near the record low at 39 percent, mirroring last year’s historic dip of 38 percent.
Despite this, when combining those expressing extreme and “very proud” sentiments, approximately two-thirds (67 percent) of Americans showcase national pride, a metric that has remained consistent over the past year.
Gallup’s inaugural survey on this question in 2001 saw 55 percent of U.S. adults claiming extreme pride in their American identity. This figure soared following the events of September 11, reaching between 65 percent and 70 percent from 2002 to 2004. Since 2005, however, the numbers have declined, with the majority level of extreme pride last seen in 2017. Since 2018, extreme pride has consistently been under 50 percent, averaging around 42 percent.
The trend reveals a significant shift over time, with nearly 90 percent of Americans expressing high levels of pride (extremely or very proud) in the early years of the survey. By 2005, this figure began to slip into the 80 percent range, eventually dropping below 70 percent since 2020.
The data shows that political affiliation remains the most potent differentiator in expressions of national pride. Republicans consistently outpace Democrats and independents in expressing pride in their American identity. The divide has widened since 2018, with Republicans more than twice as likely as Democrats and nearly twice as likely as independents to express extreme pride.
Gallup’s June poll recorded 60 percent of Republicans and 29 percent of Democrats expressing extreme pride, figures statistically similar to the previous year. Independents’ 33 percent extreme pride remained consistent, marking a record low for this demographic by a single point.
Another critical factor is age. Half of U.S. adults aged 55 and older express extreme pride, compared to 40 percent of those aged 35 to 54 and just 18 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds. Data aggregated from 2020 to 2023 reveals that younger adults across all party groups are significantly less proud than their older counterparts.
