Americans’ overall satisfaction with the state of the nation remained at a record low of 38% in January 2025, according to a new poll from Gallup. The survey, conducted just before Donald Trump was set to take office for his second term, indicates a persistent level of discontent across 31 different aspects of U.S. society and policy.
This figure matches the average satisfaction recorded each year during Joe Biden’s presidency and marks a significant decline from previous years. Average satisfaction stood at 41% in January 2021, at the end of the Trump administration’s first term, and was considerably higher at 48% in 2020, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally altered American life and perceptions.
Historical Context of US Satisfaction
The 38% reading is well below the historical norm. Gallup data shows that average satisfaction was routinely above 40% in previous decades, often reflecting periods of relative stability or optimism. The record high for this measure was 54%, recorded in 2002, in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, a period that saw a temporary surge in national unity and confidence regarding certain aspects of the country.
Comparing the current sentiment to the period just before Trump’s first presidency, the decline is stark. In January 2017, Americans expressed an average satisfaction of 44% across the same issues, a six-percentage-point difference from the 38% recorded in January 2025. This suggests a broad erosion of public contentment over the past eight years.
Areas of Perceived Strength and Weakness
The detailed findings of the Gallup poll highlight specific areas where Americans feel the country is succeeding versus those falling short. Satisfaction remains relatively higher concerning the U.S. military and overall quality of life. These areas are often seen as enduring strengths or fundamental aspects of the American experience that retain a degree of positive public perception.
Conversely, the poll points to significant dissatisfaction in areas such as morality and the country’s efforts in addressing poverty. These results underscore public concern regarding societal values and the nation’s ability to tackle significant social and economic challenges effectively.
Factors Contributing to Declining Satisfaction
The sustained low level of satisfaction is attributed by analysts and observers to a confluence of major events and trends that have affected the United States over the past several years. Potential factors cited include the lingering impacts of the pandemic, heightened scrutiny and public debate around racial justice, persistent high inflation that has squeezed household budgets, a significant increase in illegal immigration at the southern border, and landmark judicial decisions such as the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade via the Dobbs decision.
Furthermore, the political landscape has been marked by intense division. Events like Trump’s felony convictions and the turbulence surrounding two presidential elections (2020 and 2024) are also seen as contributing to a climate of political polarization and public weariness that negatively impacts perceptions of the country’s overall state.
Satisfaction with National Direction
While the average satisfaction across specific issues remains at a record low, the poll offered a slightly different perspective on the general satisfaction with the direction of the country. This separate metric registered 20% in the January 2-15 survey period. While still low by historical standards, this figure is similar to readings observed since 2023 and represents an improvement from the nadir of 11% recorded in January 2021, in the immediate aftermath of events surrounding the transition of power.
This nuanced finding suggests that while Americans remain broadly dissatisfied with specific policy outcomes and societal conditions measured by the 31 aspects, a slightly larger segment of the population feels more optimistic or less pessimistic about the nation’s overall trajectory compared to the lowest points of recent years. However, this limited optimism about the direction has not translated into a rebound in satisfaction with the detailed components of the nation’s well-being, leaving the average satisfaction score firmly entrenched at a record low as a new presidential term commences.
