| The Data: Each January, as part of its Mood of the Nation poll, Gallup asks Americans whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with a battery of national conditions, offering a public “state of the union” measured ahead of the president’s address to Congress. In January 2026, an average of 36% said they were very or somewhat satisfied across 25 aspects of the country, the numerically lowest reading in the poll’s history dating back to 2001. The Trend: For two decades, average satisfaction with these national conditions stayed within a narrow band, fluctuating between 42% and 49%. It fell to 40% in January 2021 and has declined further since.Read More |
| 2. Nation’s Satisfaction List |
| The Data: In January 2026, majorities of Americans said they were very or somewhat satisfied with just four of the national conditions measured in Gallup’s Mood of the Nation poll: U.S. military strength and preparedness (72%), overall quality of life (63%), the nation’s security from terrorism (59%), and the position of women in the country (53%). On the other end, very few Americans report being satisfied with taxes (22%), the size and influence of corporations (22%), public education (22%), the moral and ethical climate (20%), or efforts to deal with homelessness (17%). Party Differences: Republicans’ satisfaction exceeds Democrats’ on nearly every measure, with the widest gaps on the nation’s role in world affairs (65 percentage points), laws and policies on guns (57 points), opportunities to get ahead through hard work (60 points), and the economy (55 points). The only condition drawing majority-level satisfaction across all party groups is U.S. military strength, though the share satisfied differs by party. Independents fall between the two parties on most measures, but their ratings on the economy, world affairs, and race-related issues are closer to Democrats’ than to Republicans’.Read More |
| 3. Post-Financial Crisis, Long Road to Recover Confidence |
| The Data: In 2025, a median of 63% of adults across the 25 countries most affected by the 2008 global financial crisis said they have confidence in their financial institutions or banks. This confidence matches the median for the rest of the world for the first time and marks a new high for the group of countries. The Recovery: Confidence in banks among these 25 countries stood at 57% before the crisis, fell to 40% in 2009 after the collapse of major financial institutions, and reached a record low of 37% in 2012 during the eurozone crisis. Confidence rose gradually after that, nearing pre-crisis levels in 2020 before climbing notably in 2025.Latest Data |
| 4. Back to Black: Confidence Recovers in Hard-Hit Nations |
| The Data: In eight of the countries most affected by the 2008 financial crisis, including the Czech Republic, Japan and Germany, confidence in banks now exceeds their pre-crash peaks by least five percentage points. Seven others are within five points of those highs. Country Differences: Nine countries have not recovered to pre-crash levels, with confidence remaining at least five points lower. Belgium, Spain, Greece and the United States posted 2025 figures at least 14 points below their pre-crash highs.See All Countries |
| 5. U.K. Ranks First Globally in Naming Immigration as Top Problem |
| The Data: In 2025, 21% of adults in the United Kingdom named immigration as the most important problem facing their country, the highest share of any country among 107 surveyed in Gallup’s inaugural World’s Most Important Problem report. Globally, a median of just 1% cited immigration as their country’s biggest issue. More Context: Six other countries had at least 11% of adults naming immigration as their top national problem, including the Netherlands and Cyprus (13% each), Portugal and Malta (12% each), and Ireland and the Dominican Republic (11% each). It is not the most frequently cited problem in any of them. Globally, economy-related problems (23%), work (10%), politics (8%), and safety and security (7%) rank as more commonly cited concerns.See Full List |