Military and National Defense

Line graph. Americans' views of U.S. defense spending (too much, too little), trend from 1969-2021. High % "too little" was 51% in 1981. High % "too much" was 52% in 1969. (% "About right" is not shown.) In 2021, 30% say the U.S. is spending too much and 26% too little on defense.

There is much discussion as to the amount of money the government in Washington should spend for national defense and military purposes. How do you feel about this? Do you think we are spending too little, about the right amount or too much?

	Too little	About right	Too much	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2021 Feb 3-18	26	42	30	2
2020 Feb 3-16	17	50	31	2
2019 Feb 1-10	25	43	29	3
2018 Feb 1-10 ^	33	31	34	2
2017 Feb 1-5	37	28	31	3
2016 Feb 3-7	37	27	32	5
2015 Feb 8-11	34	29	32	5
2014 Feb 6-9	28	32	37	3
2013 Feb 7-10	26	36	35	3
2012 Feb 2-5	24	32	41	3
2011 Feb 2-5	22	35	39	3
2010 Feb 1-3	27	36	34	2
2009 Feb 9-12	24	41	31	4
2008 Feb 11-14	22	30	44	3
2007 Feb 1-4	20	35	43	2
2006 Feb 6-9	25	40	32	3
2005 Feb 7-10	30	38	30	2
2004 Feb 9-12	22	45	31	2
2003 Feb 3-6	25	44	27	4
2002 Feb 4-6	33	48	17	2
2001 Feb 1-4	41	38	19	2
2000 Aug 24-27	40	34	20	6
2000 May 18-21	31	44	22	3
1999 May 7-9	28	35	32	5
1998 Nov 20-22	26	45	22	7
1993 Mar 29-31	17	38	42	3
1990 Jan 4-7	9	36	50	5
1987 Apr 10-13	14	36	44	6
1986 Mar 4-10	13	36	47	4
1985 Jan 25-28	11	36	46	7
1983 Sep 9-12	21	36	37	6
1982 Nov 5-8	16	31	41	12
1981 Jan 27	51	22	15	12
1976 Jan 23-26	22	32	36	10
1973 Sep 21-24	13	30	46	11
1971 Mar 11-14	11	31	50	8
1969 Nov 12-17	8	31	52	9
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Do you, yourself, feel that our national defense is stronger now than it needs to be, not strong enough or about right at the present time?

	Stronger than it needs to be	Not strong enough	About right	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2021 Feb 3-18	14	35	50	1
2020 Feb 3-16	12	25	62	1
2019 Feb 1-10	12	31	55	1
2018 Feb 1-10	13	39	46	2
2017 Feb 1-5	11	45	43	1
2016 Feb 3-7	13	45	41	2
2015 Feb 8-11	13	44	42	1
2012 Feb 2-5	13	32	54	1
2011 Feb 2-5	11	37	50	2
2010 Feb 1-3	7	45	46	1
2009 Feb 9-12	6	37	54	3
2008 Feb 11-14	10	47	41	2
2007 Feb 1-4	8	46	43	2
2006 Feb 6-9	7	43	47	3
2005 Feb 7-10	9	40	49	2
2004 Feb 9-12	10	34	54	2
2003 Feb 3-6 ^	13	34	52	1
2002 Feb 4-6	6	43	50	1
2001 Feb 1-4	7	44	48	1
2000 May 18-21	6	38	55	1
2000 Jan 13-16	6	39	52	3
1999 May 7-9	7	42	48	3
1990 Jan 4-7	16	17	64	3
1984	15	36	46	3
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one -- a great deal, quite a lot, some or very little? The military

	Great deal	Quite a lot	Some	Very little	None (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2021 Jun 1-Jul 5	37	32	22	9	*	1
2020 Jun 8-Jul 24	40	32	20	8	1	*
2019 Jun 3-16	45	28	18	8	*	*
2018 Jun 1-13	43	31	20	5	*	1
2017 Jun 7-11	44	28	21	7	*	*
2016 Jun 1-5	41	32	19	7	*	1
2015 Jun 2-7	42	30	19	6	1	1
2014 Jun 5-8	39	35	20	6	1	*
2013 Jun 1-4	43	33	17	6	*	1
2012 Jun 7-10	43	32	18	5	1	1
2011 Jun 9-12	47	31	16	3	*	1
2010 Jul 8-11	44	32	18	4	1	1
2009 Jun 14-17	45	37	12	5	*	1
2008 Jun 9-12	45	26	20	7	1	1
2007 Jun 11-14	39	30	21	8	1	*
2006 Jun 1-4	41	32	19	5	1	1
2005 May 23-26	42	32	18	7	1	*
2004 May 21-23	36	39	19	5	*	1
2003 Jun 9-10	48	34	14	4	*	*
2002 Jun 21-23	43	36	16	5	*	*
2001 Jun 8-10	32	34	24	6	2	2
2000 Jun 22-25	25	39	26	7	1	2
1999 Jun 25-27	34	34	26	6	*	*
1998 Jun 5-7	33	31	25	8	1	2
1997 Jul 25-27	30	30	27	10	2	1
1996 May 28-29	30	36	25	7	*	2
1995 Apr 21-24	33	31	27	7	1	1
1994 Mar 25-29	30	34	26	8	*	2
1993 Mar 22-24	32	35	23	8	1	1
1991 Oct 10-13	35	34	20	8	1	3
1991 Feb 28-Mar 3	52	33	11	3	*	1
1990 Aug 16-19	37	31	22	7	1	2
1989 Sep 7-10	31	32	26	9	*	3
1988 Sep 23-26	23	35	30	9	1	2
1987 Jul 10-13	24	37	28	9	1	2
1986 Jul 11-14	29	34	24	10	1	2
1985 May 17-20	24	37	28	8	1	2
1984 Oct 6-10	28	30	24	15	--	2
1983 Aug 5-8	23	30	29	12	1	5
1981 Nov 20-23	22	28	29	14	6	2
1979 Apr 6-9	25	29	29	14	1	3
1977 Jan 7-10	23	34	25	11	1	6
1975 May 30-Jun 2	27	31	25	11	1	5
* Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Next, we'd like to know how you feel about the state of the nation in each of the following areas. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. If you don't have enough information about a particular subject to rate it, just say so. How about -- the nation's military strength and preparedness?

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Very dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2021	38	36	9	7	9
2020	49	32	8	5	6
2019	38	40	11	5	6
2018	35	43	12	6	5
2017	33	33	17	13	4
2016	25	34	17	18	6
2015	32	37	15	11	5
2014	33	39	12	10	6
2013	34	40	12	9	4
2012	35	36	14	9	6
2008	30	36	19	11	4
2007	27	35	21	11	6
2006	32	35	16	12	5
2005	28	38	20	11	3
2004	44	37	12	5	2
2003	42	41	10	4	3
2002	43	36	13	6	2
2001	24	37	19	13	7
Gallup

Do you think the United States is No. 1 in the world militarily, or that it is only one of several leading military powers?

	U.S. is No. 1	U.S. is one of several leaders	Neither (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2020 Feb 3-16	58	41	*	1
2018 Feb 1-10	52	47	*	1
2017 Feb 1-5	57	42	*	1
2016 Feb 3-7	49	49	1	2
2015 Feb 8-11	59	38	*	3
2014 Feb 6-9	53	44	1	2
2013 Feb 7-10	50	47	*	3
2012 Feb 2-5	54	45	*	1
2010 Jan 8-10	64	34	*	1
2007 Feb 1-4	60	39	*	1
2000 May 18-21	56	41	*	3
1999 May 7-9	51	46	1	2
1993 Mar 29-31	63	34	1	2
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Do you feel that it's important for the United States to be No. 1 in the world militarily, or that being No. 1 is not that important, as long as the U.S. is among the leading military powers?

	Important	Not that important	No opinion
	%	%	%
2020 Feb 3-16	63	36	1
2017 Feb 1-5	68	31	1
2016 Feb 3-7	67	32	1
2015 Feb 8-11	68	31	1
2013 Feb 7-10	62	37	1
2007 Feb 1-4	61	38	1
2000 May 18-21	70	29	1
1999 May 7-9	59	39	2
1993 Mar 29-31	61	37	2
Gallup

Which comes closer to your own opinion -- [ROTATED: the U.S. should not attack another country unless that country has attacked the U.S. first, (or) the U.S. should be able to attack any country it thinks might attack the U.S.]?

	Should not attack unless attacked first	Should be able to attack	No opinion
	%	%	%
2020 Feb 3-16	65	33	3
2006 Jul 6-9	57	35	8
2004 Oct 9-10	52	41	7
2004 Sep 24-26	52	41	7
2004 Feb 9-12	53	43	4
2003 Dec 5-7	54	41	5
2002 Oct 3-6	51	40	9
Gallup

There is much discussion as to the amount of money the government in Washington should spend for national defense and military purposes. How do you feel about this? Do you think the U.S. should spend -- [more, about the same as now (or) less] -- for national defense and military purposes?

	More	About the same	Less	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2018 Feb 1-10 ^	45	31	22	2
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Just off the top of your head, which of the five branches of the Armed Forces in this country would you say is the most prestigious and has the most status in our society today -- [ROTATED: the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, the Marines (or) the Coast Guard]?

	Air Force	Army	Navy	Marines	Coast Guard	Same (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
2014 May 8-11	17	15	12	47	2	5	2
2011 Jun 9-12 ^	15	22	8	46	2	5	2
2004 May 21-23 ^	20	15	8	44	5	5	3
2002 Apr 22-24 ^	28	13	13	39	1	4	2
2001 May 18-20 ^ #	32	11	14	36	--	4	3
^ Asked of a half sample; # Coast Guard not asked; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Just off the top of your head, which of the five branches of the Armed Forces in this country would you say is the most important to our national defense today -- [ROTATED: the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, the Marines (or) the Coast Guard]?

	Air Force	Army	Navy	Marines	Coast Guard	Same (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
2014 May 8-11	23	26	17	19	3	9	2
2011 Jun 9-12 ^	17	25	11	24	3	16	3
2004 May 21-23 ^	23	25	9	23	4	12	4
2002 Apr 22-24 ^	36	18	17	16	1	10	2
2001 May 18-20 ^ #	42	18	15	14	--	9	2
^ Asked of a half sample; # Coast Guard not asked; (vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

In twenty years, do you think the United States will be -- No. 1 in the world militarily, only one of several leading military powers or not among the leading military powers in the world?

	U.S. will be No. 1	U.S. will be one of several leaders	U.S. not one of several leaders	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2010 Jan 8-10	36	56	6	1
Gallup

Which do you think is more likely over the next 20 years -- [ROTATED: the U.S. will have combat troops actively fighting in various countries around the world on a regular basis, (or) there will be long periods of time in which the U.S. does not have combat troops actively fighting in other countries]?

	Active fighting on regular basis	Long periods with no active fighting	No opinion
	%	%	%
2010 Jan 8-10	67	30	2
Gallup

Do you think women should or should not be allowed to hold combat jobs in the U.S. armed forces?

	Yes, should allow	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Sep 7-8	74	23	3
Gallup

Do you think the United States should return to the military draft at this time, or not?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Aug 13-16	18	80	2
2004 Oct 11-14	14	85	1
2003 Oct 24-26	17	80	3
2003 Jan 3-5 ^	27	69	4
1998 Jun 5-7	16	81	3
1981 Jul 31-Aug 3	48	45	7
1980 Jul 11-14	58	34	7
1980 Feb 1-4	59	36	5
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

As you may know, under the current military policy, no one in the military is asked whether or not they are gay. But if they reveal that they are gay or they engage in homosexual activity, they will be discharged from the military. Do you personally think -- [ROTATED: gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military, gays should be allowed to serve under the current policy or gays should not be allowed to serve in the military under any circumstances]?

	Serve openly	Serve under current policy	Not serve	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2007 Jul 6-8	46	36	15	3
2000 Jan 13-16	41	38	17	4
Gallup

Some people feel that war is an outdated way of settling differences between nations. Others feel that wars are sometimes necessary to settle differences. With which point of view do you agree?

	Outdated	Sometimes necsesary	No opinion
	%	%	%
2007 Feb 1-4	37	61	3
2004 Feb 9-12	24	73	3
1999 May 7-9	26	71	3
1995 Apr 21-24 ^	38	56	6
1991 Feb 7-10 ^	17	80	3
1991 Jan 30-Feb 2 ^	21	76	4
1991 Jan 23-26 ^	37	55	8
1990 Mar 15-18 ^	49	48	3
1981 May 8-11 ^	50	43	7
1975 Apr 18-21 ^	45	46	9
1971 Jun 25-28 ^	46	44	10
^ WORDING: "...outmoded way of settling differences..."
Gallup

Do you favor or oppose allowing women in the military into combat jobs?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Jun 24-26	67	32	1
1992 Nov 10-11 ^	55	42	3
^ Asked in rotation with other items
Gallup

If you had a son or daughter who was planning to enter the military, would you support that step or would you suggest a different occupation?

	Support that step	Suggest different occupation	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Jun 16-19	51	48	1
Gallup

Would you favor or oppose requiring every able-bodied young man in this country when he reaches the age of 18, to spend one year in military training and then join the reserves?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Jun 16-19	35	62	3
1955 Dec 8-13	69	23	8
1955 May 12-17	76	18	6
1955 Feb 10-15	71	20	9
1955 Jan 20-25	73	22	5
1954 Dec 2-7	75	22	3
1954 Aug 26-31	72	22	6
1952 Feb 28-Mar 5	60	33	7
1951 Dec 9-14	56	28	16
Gallup

Do you think women in the armed services -- should get combat assignments on the same terms as men, should they be able to get combat assignments only if they want to or should they never get combat assignments?

	Same as men	Only if want to	Never get	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2003 Dec 5-7	38	45	16	1
1991 Jul 25-26	26	53	18	3
1991 Feb 14-15	36	45	16	3
Gallup

Do you think people who are openly gay or homosexual should -- or should not -- be allowed to serve in the U.S. military?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2003 Dec 5-7	79	18	3
Gallup

Next, I will read you a list of jobs in the military that are considered combat jobs. Do you favor or oppose having women do each of the following? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
Flying combat aircraft
2001 Dec 14-16 ^	77	21	2
Serving on submarines
2001 Dec 14-16 ^	73	24	3
Serving as ground combat troops
2001 Dec 14-16 ^	52	46	2
Serving as special forces that conduct operations behind enemy lines
2001 Dec 14-16 ^	63	35	2
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

If a draft were to become necessary, should young women be required to participate as well as young men, or not?

	Yes, required	No, not required	No opinion
	%	%	%
2001 Dec 14-16	46	50	4
1998 Jun 5-7	54	44	2
1991 Jul 25-26	50	47	3
1980 Jul 11-14	49	47	4
1980 Feb 1-4	51	45	4
1980 Jan 31-Feb 1	50	47	3
1979 Mar 2-5	43	50	7
Gallup

Military and National Defense

Related Topics Include:

The Five Conditions Assessment

Recommended

Americans' Confidence in Major U.S. Institutions Dips

Cyberterrorism Tops List of 11 Potential Threats to U.S.

Americans' Views of Impeachment, Trump's Record on Issues

Making Up Lost Ground: Chuck Hagel on U.S. Foreign Policy