"Only One in Four Americans Say 'We're the Best'... Waning National Pride in the U.S."

AP and University of Chicago Survey of Over 2,500 Adults
Younger Generation Holds Negative Views on America's Standing
Perceptions of Democracy and the American Dream Also Decline

Only one in four Americans believe that the United States is the best country in the world, according to recent findings.

The American flag is raised. Photo by AP Yonhap News Agency

On June 8 (local time), Yonhap News Agency reported that, according to a survey conducted by the Associated Press and the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Chicago, only 25% of more than 2,500 American adults responded that "the United States is better than any other country." This figure has decreased from 33% in 2017, but shows a slight increase from 21% in 2024.

Responses changed even more when asked, "Do you think other countries are as good as or better than the United States?" The proportion of respondents who said that the United States is one of several outstanding countries was 44%, a 7 percentage point decrease from 51% in 2024. Meanwhile, the share of those who believe that there are countries better than the United States increased from 26% to 30% over the same period, a rise of 4 percentage points.

Negative perceptions of America's global standing were particularly pronounced among younger generations. When asked, "Are there countries better than the United States?" 44% of those under 30 answered yes, compared to just 22% among those aged 60 and older.

Regarding the question, "How important is a democratically elected government to American identity?" 66% of respondents said it was "very important." This is a significant drop from 80% in 2021. Here, too, generational differences were evident. Among those aged 60 and older, 81% considered it very important, compared to just 51% of respondents under 30.

Derica Wall, 24, a resident of Alabama, told AP, "It's not that democracy itself doesn't work, but the real problem lies with the people who actually hold public office." She added, "America today is not what it used to be. If the founding fathers saw the country now, they would rise from their graves in great disappointment."

A photo showing workers working in a building in New York, USA, to help readers understand the article. Photo by AP Yonhap News.

Only 34% of respondents said the "American Dream" — the belief that working hard leads to success — still holds true. Fifty-one percent answered that it used to be true but no longer is, while 15% said it was never true. Here, too, generational gaps were clear: only 22% of those under 30 said the American Dream is still valid, compared to 46% of those aged 60 and older.

Jack Hermanson, 27, a software developer in Denver, Colorado, said, "Watching my spouse, an engineer, struggle to find a job changed my perspective. My belief that hard work leads to fair rewards has been shattered."

To the question, "Is the fusion of cultures and values from around the world at the core of American identity?" only about 40% of Republican respondents answered positively, in stark contrast to 76% of Democrats. The overall positive response rate was 55%. Differences between political affiliations were also evident in other questions. About 50% of Republicans said the United States is better than any other country, compared to just 7% of Democrats. When asked if the American Dream is still valid, 57% of Republicans agreed, while only 17% of Democrats did.

This survey was conducted as the United States prepares for its 250th founding anniversary celebrations, and it is seen as evidence that the perception of America as an exceptional nation among its citizens is weakening. The survey involved 2,596 American adults from April 16 to 20, with a margin of error of ±2.6 percentage points.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.