Confidence in the future is fading for many Americans, according to new polling that suggests optimism about life in the United States has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade.
A survey released this week by Gallup found that fewer than six in ten U.S. adults believe they will be living a high-quality life five years from now. As of 2025, that reading marks the weakest level of long-term optimism recorded since Gallup began tracking the question in 2009, representing a notable decline compared with the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trend shows a steady erosion over time. Optimism stood above 68 percent in 2020, dipped slightly in 2021, and dropped more sharply in 2022 amid pandemic disruptions and economic uncertainty. The outlook peaked in 2016, when nearly 69 percent of Americans expressed confidence in their future, a significant rebound from the financial crisis era more than a decade earlier.
Recent declines were seen across nearly every major demographic group. From 2024 to 2025, Hispanic adults experienced the largest drop in optimism, followed by white adults and Black adults. Analysts note that concerns about immigration enforcement, public safety, and economic stability have increasingly shaped attitudes, particularly in large metropolitan areas governed by Democratic leadership.
Political divisions also remain a major factor. Optimism among Democrats fell sharply over the past year, while Republicans reported a slight increase. Independents registered a modest decline. Similar shifts have occurred in previous election cycles, reflecting how public confidence often changes depending on which party holds the White House.
With the midterm elections approaching, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are facing renewed scrutiny over economic conditions. Historically, the president’s party tends to lose ground during midterm elections, a pattern Trump himself has publicly acknowledged.
While the administration has pointed to economic growth and job creation as signs of progress, many voters remain uneasy. Inflation, though lower than recent highs, remains above the Federal Reserve’s long-term target, and unemployment edged higher toward the end of last year. Rising costs for essentials such as food, housing, and energy continue to weigh heavily on household budgets, particularly for retirees and fixed-income Americans.
Additional polling underscores that concern. A recent national survey found that nearly six in ten voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy, reflecting growing anxiety about financial stability and long-term opportunity.
Gallup’s findings are based on four quarterly surveys conducted nationwide throughout the past year, totaling more than 22,000 adult respondents. The poll carries a margin of error of approximately half a percentage point overall, with slightly higher margins for demographic and political subgroups.
Together, the results paint a picture of a nation increasingly uncertain about its future — a challenge that could play a decisive role as voters head toward another high-stakes election season.