Majority of Americans Optimistic About Country’s Future, According to Research

Fans attend the 2018 Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th concert in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 4, 2018. (by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

The majority of American adults say that the country’s best days are ahead, according to a recent survey conducted by Gallup.

The survey shows that 55 percent—up from 47 percent in 2012—share this optimistic view of the country’s future. The findings come in conjunction with a numerical high in satisfaction with the direction of the United States, with 38 percent of Americans saying they are “satisfied with the way things are going in the country.” This represents a significant increase on the 2012 satisfaction rate of 23 percent.

The rise in satisfaction is linked to several positive economic circumstances, such as an 18-year low in unemployment and continued economic expansion.

The Gallup report also suggests recent political developments, such as President Donald Trump’s withdrawing the United States from the Iran nuclear deal and his negotiations with North Korea, have factored into the satisfaction levels.

At the same time, the report acknowledges that Americans’ optimism about the future is significantly influenced by their political leanings. For instance, 69 percent of Republicans and 54 percent of independents say the country’s best days are ahead, while 47 percent of Democrats share this view.

The “best days are ahead” survey was conducted via telephone interview, over 6 days in June with a sample of over 1,500 adults, aged 18 and over. The sample included people living in all 50 U.S. States and in the District of Columbia.