Satisfaction with democracy rises from record low: Gallup

The number of Americans satisfied with how democracy works in the United States has risen from record lows set just a year ago, according to a new Gallup poll released Wednesday.

The poll found that although most Americans, 61 percent, are dissatisfied with the inner workings of the country’s democracy, the number who are satisfied rose to 34 percent in December 2024, up 6 points from December 2023.

Gallup noted that satisfaction is still low compared to previous periods. The numbers were much higher in the 1980s and 1990s, reaching a record high of 64 percent in 1984. The number fell to 36 percent in 1992, but rose to 50 percent just two years later.

Satisfaction with the state of democracy today is very similar to expectations after the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Four years ago, only 35% were satisfied with this, according to the poll. It has remained below this threshold ever since.

The increase in satisfaction from the previous year is due, in part, to a rise in the number of Republicans who are satisfied. About one in three, 33%, of GOP voters are satisfied with the state of democracy, which is nearly double the number recorded, 17%, just over a year ago.

Satisfaction among Democrats changed little, at 35 percent, just three points lower than 38 percent in December 2023, according to the poll. Independents are more satisfied than they were 12 months ago, now standing at 34 per cent, up 7 points from 27 per cent a year ago.

“As a result of changes in caucus, Republicans, Democrats and independents now express similar levels of satisfaction with American democracy, a rarity in this trend,” Gallup senior editor Jeffrey Jones wrote.

The survey was conducted from December 2 to 18, 2024 among 1,003 adults. The margin of error was 4 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.