As 250th nears, fewer Americans say US is best country in the world
A new poll finds a majority of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track ahead of its milestone birthday.
Karissa WaddickAmericans hold a bleak view of the country’s future ahead of its 250th birthday.
A poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, published June 8, found 72% of Americans believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction. About half (51%) say the American Dream, or the belief that if you work hard you'll get ahead, once held true but no longer does today.
The results highlight persistent anxiety among Americans about the state of the government and crumbling faith in the nation’s democratic systems, particularly among young adults. It follows months of surveys showing eroding public trust at a time when government groups are attempting to bring people together in celebration.
Despite this year’s patriotic push, fewer Americans see the U.S. as better than other countries. Less than 45% of Americans said the U.S. was one of the greatest countries in the world, down from 55% in 2016.
About 3 in 10 respondents said they believe some other countries are better than the U.S.
The disillusionment is paired with division over the country’s core values. Half of Americans say cultural diversity is key to the fabric of the nation.
Two-thirds (66%) of Americans say a democratically elected government is extremely or very important to the country’s identity. That’s down from 80% in 2021.
The survey was conducted April 16-20 among 2,596 Americans. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6%.
Karissa Waddick covers America's 250th anniversary for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].