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Frequently asked Pew Research survey questions and data.
National Satisfaction: 28%
A little more than a quarter of Americans (28%) are satisfied with the state of the nation. Two-thirds (65%) remain dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country today, and there is plenty of evidence as to why. An increasing number of Americans (57%) say the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan is going not too well or not at all well. Two-thirds of Americans describe their personal finances as only fair or poor, a 17-year low. And the worst of Americans’ ire is directed at the national economy. Fully 91% of Americans rate the nation's economy as in only fair or poor shape. While the percentage rating the economy as poor has fallen to 50%, down from 71% in February, the percentage saying they expect things to get better a year from now has slipped from 45% last month to 39% today.
Last Updated: 10 Nov 09
Presidential Approval: 51%
Despite the public’s overwhelming negative assessment of the economy, and dour analysis of their personal finances, the war in Afghanistan and the health care bills in Congress, a majority of Americans continue to approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as president. Since July, the president’s approval rating has ranged between 51% and 55%. His disapproval rating has ranged between 33% and 37% during this time, and currently stands at 36%. Obama’s overall rating is higher than his approval on specific issues like foreign policy (44% approve), health care (43% approve) and the economy (42% approve). While these numbers have changed little since July, approval of his handling of Afghanistan has dropped noticeably to 36% from 47% in July.
Last Updated: 10 Nov 09
Democratic Party Favorability: 48%
The Democratic Party has seen a sharp fall in favorability in 2009. While the Democratic Party is still seen more positively than the GOP (40% favorability), its favorability rating has fallen to 48%, down from 62% in January. The party’s electoral outlook has also taken a hit. In a hypothetical midterm election, as many voters would choose the Democratic candidate (45%) as would support the Republican (44%). At about this point four years ago, Democrats led in the generic congressional ballot by 52% to 40%. However, the Democratic Party continues to hold substantial advantages over the GOP on nearly all issues and leadership traits.
Last Updated: 30 Aug 09
Republican Party Favorability: 40%
As has been the case for most of the past three years, a little more than half the public has an unfavorable view of the Republican Party, while about four-in-ten view the party favorably. Though opinion of the GOP has not improved among Americans, Republicans have tied the Democrats in a generic congressional ballot: if the election were held today, 45% of voters would choose a Democrat and 44% would back a Republican. And while voters still side with the Democrats on most issues, as many voters now trust the GOP as the Democrats on reducing the federal budget deficit and managing the federal government, issues the Democrats were favored on by double-digit margins in 2006.
Last Updated: 30 Aug 09
Home Broadband Adoption: 63%
Fully 63% of adult Americans now have broadband internet connections at home, up from 55% who had high-speed access in May 2008. Broadband adoption had stalled between December 2007 and December 2008 -- remaining in a narrow range between 54% and 57% -- but has since risen with strong growth among seniors, low-income Americans and rural residents. African Americans, however, experienced their second consecutive year of below average broadband adoption growth. Groups who already had above-average rates of high-speed internet -- upper-income Americans and college graduates -- also saw only modest growth in the past year. Only 7% of Americans are dial-up internet users at home, a figure that is half the level it had been two years ago. A plurality of dial-up users said cost was the reason they've yet to make the change to broadband.
Last Updated: 1 May 09
Iraq War Wrong Decision: 49%
Since the beginning of 2007, positive views of the situation in Iraq have risen dramatically; however, the number of Americans who believe invading Iraq was the wrong decision (49%) is almost exactly what it was two years ago. The number of Americans saying invading Iraq was the right decision has hovered around 40% for those two years, and is currently at 43%. In contrast, while opinion about the situation in Afghanistan is less positive, nearly two-thirds (64%) believe the decision to use military force in that country was the right decision.
Last Updated: 16 Jan 09
Internet Penetration: 75%
Three quarters of Americans (75%) are internet users, over 60 points more than were online in 1995 when only 14% of the country used the internet. The Web remains a place dominated by younger Americans; fully 87% of adults ages 18 to 29 go online and more than half of the adult internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. Older Americans, however, have seen considerable growth in online penetration. While only 26% of adults ages 70 to 75 were online in 2005, close to half (45%) now use the internet. Among all adults ages 65 and older, 41% go online. Income and education are strongly related to internet penetration. Nearly all high-income (94%) and college-educated Americans (95%) are online, while only 57% of Americans earning less than $30,000 and roughly a third of those with less than a high school education use the internet.
Last Updated: 1 Dec 08
