American Pride Ticks Up From Last Year's Record Low

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. adults' pride in being Americans has ticked up after hitting a record low last year, but it remains well below the levels seen before 2017. The combined 69% of Americans who are now "extremely" (43%) or "very proud" (26%) to be Americans is in line with what Gallup measured in 2019. Most of the recovery in the past year is seen in the percentage who say they are "very proud."

Before 2018, no less than three-quarters of U.S. adults said they were extremely or very proud to be Americans, with majorities saying they were extremely proud. Both figures have declined at least slightly each year since then, reaching new lows last summer amid widespread racial justice protests, the coronavirus pandemic and a divisive presidential election campaign.

U.S. national pride peaked in the years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, with at least nine in 10 Americans between 2002 and 2004 saying they were extremely or very proud, including roughly 70% who were extremely proud.

The current results are based on a June 1-18 survey. In addition to the combined 69% of U.S. adults who are extremely or very proud, 20% say they are "moderately proud," 6% are "only a little proud," and 5% are "not at all proud." The combined 11% only a little or not at all proud is down from 21% last year.