Americans are more pessimistic about the country’s moral values than at any point in more than two decades of Gallup polling, according to a new survey that found record-high dissatisfaction and growing concern about the direction of the nation.
The poll found that 56% of Americans now rate the state of moral values in the United States as “poor,” the highest level Gallup has recorded since it began asking the question in 2002.
Negative views surge across party lines
The latest findings show worsening attitudes among Republicans, Democrats and independents alike.
Just 3% of Americans rated the nation’s moral values as “excellent,” while 9% described them as “good” and 30% said they were “only fair.”
For the first time in Gallup’s tracking, majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents all rated the country’s moral values as poor. The share reached 59% among Democrats, 56% among independents and 54% among Republicans.
The shift marks a significant change from recent years, when partisan differences on the issue were much wider.
Most Americans believe values are getting worse
The survey found even broader agreement when Americans were asked about the direction of the country’s moral values.
Eight in 10 respondents said moral values are getting worse, while just 15% said they are improving.
That level of pessimism is among the highest Gallup has measured. Only 2023 produced a slightly higher reading, when 83% of Americans said moral values were deteriorating.
Democrats were the most likely to express concern, with 87% saying values are getting worse. Among independents, 81% shared that view, while 67% of Republicans agreed.
Americans see government influence, but disagree on its role
While most Americans believe government policies affect moral values, there is less agreement about whether government should actively promote them.
The survey found that 69% of Americans believe government policies have a significant effect on people’s moral values, up roughly 10 percentage points from similar surveys conducted in 1996 and 2006.
Majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents all agreed that government actions influence moral values.
However, Americans were nearly evenly split on whether government should be involved in promoting those values. Half of respondents said government should stay out of that role, while 45% said it should play a part.
Sharp partisan divide over government involvement
The strongest disagreement emerged over the government’s proper role in shaping values.
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats said government should not be involved in promoting moral values, while most Republicans favored government involvement.
Gallup noted that Democratic support for government promotion of moral values has fallen sharply over the past three decades. In 1996, 58% of Democrats supported government involvement. Today, only 29% do.
Republican views have remained relatively stable over that same period, with roughly six in 10 supporting government involvement in all three surveys conducted since 1996.
Shared concern, different conclusions
Despite widespread agreement that the nation’s moral values are in poor condition, Gallup found little consensus on what is causing the decline or how it should be addressed.
The survey suggests Americans increasingly believe government policies shape social values, but remain divided on whether government should actively attempt to influence them.
The poll was conducted May 1-17 and reflects interviews with adults nationwide.
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