Overview
- About one-third of Americans name politics and government as the country’s biggest problem, a share exceeded only by Taiwan in Gallup’s 107-country survey.
- Globally, the economy is the median top concern at 23%, and only eight other countries ranked politics first.
- A sharp age divide emerged: roughly one-third of Americans 35 and under prioritize affordability and the economy, while about 4 in 10 adults 35 and older point to politics.
- Low trust in institutions correlates with these views, with 41% of less-trusting Americans citing politics as the top problem compared with 21% among those who are more trusting.
- Gallup surveyed about 1,000 people per country from March to October 2025, and it says the issue seen as most important has historically aligned with U.S. presidential outcomes.