Is Patriotism Fading? New Poll Finds American Pride at Historic Lows

In the lead-up to America’s 249th birthday, a new Gallup poll reveals a complicated picture of patriotism across the country. According to data collected from June 2–19, 2025, just 41% of Americans say they are “extremely proud” to be American—a number that remains unchanged from 2024 but far below the patriotic highs of earlier decades.

The findings mark a continuation of a long-term downward trend in national pride. In the early 2000s, the “extremely proud” sentiment hovered around 60–70%, peaking at 70% in June 2003. But over the last two decades, that figure has steadily eroded, particularly among younger Americans and Democrats.

While an additional 17% of respondents say they are “very proud” and 19% report being “moderately proud,” a growing share of the population says their pride in being American is limited. Eleven percent say they are “only a little proud,” and 9% say they’re “not at all proud.” That latter group has more than doubled since 2013.

A Nation Divided—By Age, Party, and Education

Gallup’s breakdown of the numbers reveals stark differences across political and demographic lines:

• Republicans remain the most patriotic bloc, with 77% saying they are “extremely proud” to be American.
• Democrats, by contrast, come in at just 20% on that same measure, while independents land at 32%.
• Older Americans (55+) are far more likely to express extreme pride (52%) than those aged 18–34 (just 24%).
• College graduates report lower levels of extreme pride (36%) than those with a high school diploma or less (48%).
• White Americans are more likely than non-white Americans to be “extremely proud” (47% vs. 30%).

Interestingly, income didn’t appear to have a strong correlation with pride. Respondents across income brackets were fairly evenly split on patriotic intensity.

A Shift That’s Hard to Ignore

Gallup has been tracking this measure since the early 2000s. In January 2004, nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) said they were “extremely proud” to be American. That number dropped into the 50s by the mid-2010s, into the 40s by the end of the decade, and has now settled into the low 40s over the past few years.

The growing share of Americans who say they are “only a little proud” or “not at all proud” underscores shifting attitudes toward American institutions, politics, and national identity. It also reflects generational and ideological realignments playing out in culture, education, and governance.

With the 250th anniversary of American independence on the horizon in 2026, these numbers offer a timely—if sobering—look at how Americans feel about the nation they call home. While pride remains, it’s far from unanimous and far from where it once stood.

Whether those numbers will rise—or continue to fall—may depend on what comes next.