• A new Reuters/Ipsos poll reveals deep anxiety about the nation's future, with 38% of Americans saying the U.S. will not exist as a single country in 250 years, while 62% believe it will.
  • 64% of Americans say U.S. democracy is in danger of failing, up from 57% last year, reflecting growing concern across party lines.
  • The share of Americans who consider the U.S. the greatest country in the world has fallen to 30%, down from 38% in 2017.

Rising Alarm Over Democracy's Health

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted this month, underscores a deepening crisis of confidence in American institutions. Nearly two-thirds of respondents—64%—said U.S. democracy is in danger of failing, a significant increase from 57% in 2025. The finding cuts across partisan divides, though concerns are particularly acute among Democrats and independents, according to people familiar with the data. The survey of 4,000 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Existential Fears About National Unity

In a striking reflection of polarization, 38% of Americans said they believe the U.S. will not exist as a single country in 250 years, while 62% expressed confidence in its continued unity. The question, which has been asked in prior iterations, shows a notable uptick in pessimism compared to earlier decades, though exact historical comparisons are not available. "These numbers signal a profound loss of faith in our ability to govern ourselves together," said a political analyst who asked not to be named, noting that such views often correlate with broader economic and social anxieties.

Waning Global Prestige

The poll also found that only 30% of Americans now consider the U.S. the greatest country in the world, down from 38% in 2017. This decline tracks with other surveys showing diminished confidence in U.S. leadership abroad and domestic satisfaction. The drop is most pronounced among younger Americans, with just 22% of those under 30 holding that view. The findings come amid ongoing debates over electoral integrity, democratic norms, and the direction of the economy.

Reuters and Ipsos have not yet released full crosstabs or the exact wording of all questions. Attempts to reach pollsters for additional comment were unsuccessful.

This article has been updated to reflect the poll's margin of error.