Declining Patriotism in America: A Look at the Gallup Poll Results

According to a recent Gallup poll, Republicans exhibit a higher inclination towards patriotism compared to Democrats. However, it's noteworthy that the percentage of Americans expressing "extreme pride" in their country is just one percent higher than the lowest recorded figure. The survey reveals that only 39% of adults, a marginal increase from the previous year's record low of 38%, claim to be "extremely proud" to be Americans. Alarmingly, since 2017, less than half of Americans have demonstrated substantial levels of patriotism.

Notably, Republicans are twice as likely as Democrats to identify themselves as having extreme pride. Megan Brenan, a research consultant at Gallup, highlights that party identification consistently remains the primary factor in distinguishing expressions of national pride, with Republicans consistently exhibiting higher levels than Democrats and independents. This gap has further widened since 2018, with more Republicans than Democrats expressing extreme pride in their country.

The survey, which was conducted between June 1 and 22, reveals a significant partisan gap in levels of patriotism. Republicans now say they are "extremely proud" to be Americans by 60%, up from 58% last year. Just 29% of Democrats now agree, up from 26% last year, while 33% of independents do. 

Even though the percentage of people who express extreme pride and those who are "very proud" to be Americans appears low, it is actually 67%, up from 65% the year before. 

Approximately nine out of ten Americans expressed their utmost pride, from the onset of the trend until 2004, according to the combined percentages of those who described themselves as extremely or very proud. However, this statistic gradually declined, dipping below 80% in 2005 and reaching 75% by 2017. Since 2020, it has remained below the 70% mark.
 
Gallup surveys conducted in 2001, the year the question was first posed, revealed that 55% of Americans were extremely proud of their nation, while an impressive 87% were also very proud. Following the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Gallup observed a heightened level of patriotism, with 65-70% of Americans identifying as extremely proud.
 
According to the poll, 28% of Americans reported being "very proud," 7% expressed being "only a little proud," 22% indicated they were "moderately proud," and 4% confessed to not feeling proud at all about their American identity.

Furthermore, there exists a clear disparity in patriotic sentiment based on age, with older individuals exhibiting a greater affinity for their country. Within the Republican party, those aged 35 to 54 and 55 and above are 42% more likely to express extreme patriotism compared to their counterparts aged 18 to 34. Interestingly, among Democrats aged 55 and above, only 38% express immense pride in being American, whereas a mere 12% of Democrats fall within the 18 to 34 age bracket.
 
Despite the proportion of American adults expressing extreme pride in their country hovering near a historic low, it is worth noting, as Brenan highlights, that when accounting for those who express very high levels of pride, roughly two-thirds still exhibit a sense of national pride.


 

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