Social Issues

U.S. Waiting for Race Relations to Improve Under Obama

Hope for long-term improvement still abounds

November 9, 2009

Forty-one percent of Americans say race relations have gotten at least a little better under Barack Obama; about half as many say they have worsened. Last November, 70% expected race relations to improve as a result of his election, and 61% still hold out hope that this will happen in the long run.More ...

Support for Legalizing Marijuana Reaches All-Time High

October 19, 2009

Forty-four percent of Americans think the use of marijuana should be made legal, up from the 36% who said the same at this time last year, and the highest in Gallup's history of asking this question.

U.S. Support for Legalizing Marijuana Reaches New High

Majority in the West favors taxing marijuana sales to boost state revenues

October 19, 2009

More than 4 in 10 Americans -- 44% -- believe the use of marijuana should be legalized, while barely half say it should not be. Support for legalization is up from 36% in 2005 and now far exceeds the 31% found at the start of the decade. Politically, most of the increase is seen among Democrats.More ...

In U.S., Two-Thirds Continue to Support Death Penalty

Little change in recent years despite international opposition

October 13, 2009

Two-thirds of Americans (65%) continue to support the use of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, while 31% oppose it -- continuing a trend that has shown little change over the last six years.More ...

Fewer Americans Want Stricter Gun Laws

October 9, 2009

A record-low 44% of Americans say that the laws covering the sale of firearms should be made more strict, while another 43% say they should be kept as they are now, and 12% say they should be made less strict.

In OECD Countries, Universal Healthcare Gets High Marks

Most countries tend to be more positive about local than national healthcare

August 20, 2009

Gallup reveals that among OECD nations, people in countries with universal healthcare systems are more likely to be satisfied with the availability of quality healthcare in their communities and to have confidence in their national healthcare or medical systems than those without universal healthcare systems.More ...

U.S. Abortion Attitudes Closely Divided

Forty-seven percent of Americans identify as “pro-life,” 46% as “pro-choice”

August 4, 2009

A mid-July USA Today/Gallup poll finds 47% of Americans calling themselves “pro-life” and 46% “pro-choice.” While the “pro-life” percentage has declined some compared to Gallup findings from May, both 2009 readings find more Americans labeling themselves “pro-life” than has been true in recent years.More ...

In Major Economies, Many See Threat From Climate Change

Awareness is high, except in Indonesia, India, South Africa

July 8, 2009

With climate change on the agenda at the Group of Eight summit and the Major Economies Forum this week, Gallup Polls reveal that residents in many of these top-polluting nations who are familiar with global warming or climate change believe it poses a serious threat.More ...

Drinking Habits Steady Amid Recession

Sixty-four percent drink, unchanged; beer is still the preferred beverage

June 29, 2009

Despite some talk that the recession could be changing Americans’ drinking patterns, Gallup finds no real shift in the prevalence of drinking alcohol among U.S. adults (now 64%) or in how much Americans say they drink. Beer beats out wine, 40% to 34%, as drinkers’ preferred beverage.More ...

Arab Youth Express Strong Entrepreneurial Spirit

Most agree entrepreneurs help to create jobs

June 9, 2009

In its first report on Arab youth, Gallup Poll findings reveal that many young Arabs who don’t already own businesses plan to start one in the next year.More ...

Social Issues

U.S. Waiting for Race Relations to Improve Under Obama

Hope for long-term improvement still abounds

Support for Legalizing Marijuana Reaches All-Time High

U.S. Support for Legalizing Marijuana Reaches New High

Majority in the West favors taxing marijuana sales to boost state revenues

In U.S., Two-Thirds Continue to Support Death Penalty

Little change in recent years despite international opposition

Fewer Americans Want Stricter Gun Laws

In OECD Countries, Universal Healthcare Gets High Marks

Most countries tend to be more positive about local than national healthcare

U.S. Abortion Attitudes Closely Divided

Forty-seven percent of Americans identify as “pro-life,” 46% as “pro-choice”

In Major Economies, Many See Threat From Climate Change

Awareness is high, except in Indonesia, India, South Africa

Drinking Habits Steady Amid Recession

Sixty-four percent drink, unchanged; beer is still the preferred beverage

Arab Youth Express Strong Entrepreneurial Spirit

Most agree entrepreneurs help to create jobs

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Social Issues

Arab Youth Perceive Many Barriers to Economic Opportunity

Conservatives Shift in Favor of Openly Gay Service Members

Knowing Someone Gay/Lesbian Affects Views of Gay Issues

Majority of Americans Continue to Oppose Gay Marriage

Republicans Move to the Right on Several Moral Issues

U.S., Canada Show More Interfaith Cohesion Than Europe

Views on Global Warming Relate to Energy Efficiency

Awareness, Opinions About Global Warming Vary Worldwide

Among OECD Nations, U.S. Lags in Personal Health

Increased Number Think Global Warming Is “Exaggerated”