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Patriotism Survey Among U.S. Adults Age 18 and Older

by Hana Holley, AARP Knowledge Management, AARP Research, June 2006

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The state of patriotism among adult Americans, expressions of their love for country, and their plans for observing the 2006 Fourth of July are explored in this AARP telephone survey.

Interviews with 608 age 18+ men and women found that…

  • 57 percent describe themselves as extremely or very patriotic with 28 percent somewhat patriotic and 12 percent not especially so
  • 74% of those age 50+ say they’re extremely or very patriotic compared to 60 percent of those age 35 to 49 and 32 percent of those age 18 to 34
  • 25 percent say they’ve become more patriotic over the last five years while 11 percent have become less and 62 percent remained the same
  • In the past year, 64 percent have recited the Pledge of Allegiance, 61 percent have sung the national anthem and 61 percent displayed the American flag on their home or car
  • To celebrate Independence Day 2006…

    • 84 percent will get together with their families
    • 78 percent will get together with friends and/or neighbors
    • 75 percent plan to host or attend a barbecue, picnic or cookout
    • 71 percent expect to attend a fireworks display
    • up to 20 percent may have to cancel or curtail their July 4th observances due to high gas prices

The fieldwork was conducted for the AARP Bulletin by ICR/International Communications Research as part of an omnibus survey between May 19th and 23rd, 2006. Further information about the study may be obtained by contacting the report’s author, Hana Holley of AARP Knowledge Management, at 202-434-6324. (17 pages)