Key facts
- 38% of Americans doubt the U.S. will exist as a single country in 250 years.
- 64% of Americans believe U.S. democracy is in danger of failing.
- Concerns about democracy's staying power have increased from 57% last year.
- Only 30% of Americans consider the U.S. the greatest country in the world.
- A majority of Americans feel the 250th anniversary celebrations are too political.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a Reuters/Ipsos poll indicates widespread doubt about its long-term endurance and the health of its democracy. The survey found that 38% of Americans do not believe the U.S. will exist as a single country in 250 years, while 62% hold the opposite view.
Concerns about the state of American democracy have intensified, with 64% of respondents agreeing that it is in danger of failing. This figure represents an increase from 57% in a similar poll conducted last year, with a notable rise in worry among Republicans.
The poll also revealed a decline in national pride, with only 30% of Americans considering the U.S. the greatest country in the world, down from 38% in 2017. A majority of Americans, across party lines, feel that the events celebrating the country's 250th anniversary have become overly politicized.
President Donald Trump has placed himself at the center of the upcoming July 4th celebrations, framing them as a political rally for his party. Both Trump and Democratic leaders have accused each other of posing a danger to the nation and its democratic institutions. The Reuters/Ipsos poll took place from June 12-15, featuring 1,537 U.S. adults and a margin of error of 3 percentage points.