59.7%
2026 (YTD) (latest)
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT LIFE IN 5 YEARS
percent rating their expected life in five years 8–10 on a 0–10 ladder · 2009–2026 · higher is better · Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index
63%
2009
68.9%
high · 2016
59.2%
low · 2025
−3.3 pts
since 2009
┊ dashed lines mark 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
Method & caveats. Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index (U.S. adults, tens of thousands of interviews a year), Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale: respondents rate their life today and their expected life five years from now on a 0–10 ladder. Gallup moved from daily phone tracking to its web panel over 2018–2020. Values are Gallup's own published annual figures.
Sources
Every value on this page is read from the publisher below. Current and historical source documents:
- https://news.gallup.com/poll/702125/american-optimism-slumps-record-low.aspx
- https://github.com/danielmiessler/substrate/tree/main/Data/US-Societal-Health
Data
| Year | Optimistic About Life in 5 Years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 59.7% | +0.5 pts |
| 2025 | 59.2% | −3.5 pts |
| 2024 | 62.7% | +0.8 pts |
| 2023 | 61.9% | −1.2 pts |
| 2022 | 63.1% | −4.6 pts |
| 2021 | 67.7% | −0.6 pts |
| 2020 | 68.3% | +2.2 pts |
| 2019 | 66.1% | −0.3 pts |
| 2018 | 66.4% | −1.8 pts |
| 2017 | 68.2% | −0.7 pts |
| 2016 | 68.9% | +0.2 pts |
| 2015 | 68.7% | +1.0 pts |
| 2014 | 67.7% | +4.6 pts |
| 2013 | 63.1% | −0.7 pts |
| 2012 | 63.8% | +0.4 pts |
| 2011 | 63.4% | −0.7 pts |
| 2010 | 64.1% | +1.1 pts |
| 2009 | 63% | — |
Also in Happiness & Outlook