Fall 2025 Harvard Youth Poll

Posted by Harvard Kennedy School on December 9, 2025

A new national poll from the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School reveals a generation under profound strain, as young Americans report deep economic insecurity, eroding trust in democratic institutions, and growing social fragmentation. The 51st Harvard Youth Poll finds that for many 18- to 29-year-olds, instability — financial, political, and interpersonal — has become a defining feature of daily life, shaping their outlook on the country and their own futures.

Among the key findings:

• Continued instability defines young Americans’ lives, with only 13% saying the country is headed in the right direction and many indicators pointing to widespread financial, emotional, and social strain.
• AI is amplifying uncertainty about the future of work, with young adults expecting fewer opportunities, greater threats to job security, and diminished meaning in their careers.
• Trust in institutions continues to erode, with colleges and immigrants standing out as rare sources of strength, while the mainstream media and political parties are viewed more as threats than assets.
• Social trust is unraveling, as many young Americans avoid political conversations, fear judgment for sharing their views, and doubt that people with opposing perspectives want what’s best for the country.
• Vaccine confidence shows clear fault lines, with strong trust in safety far from universal, misconceptions still present, and wide differences by race and political affiliation.
• Young Americans rate President Trump and both major political parties poorly, offering overwhelmingly negative descriptions of Democrats and Republicans alike — and while Democrats lead for 2026, that support stems more from caution than genuine enthusiasm.
• Most young Americans reject political violence, but a meaningful minority express conditional tolerance, driven less by ideology and more by financial strain, institutional distrust, and social alienation.

Read more.