Moral Issues

Line graph. Americans' ratings of U.S. moral values show a decline for current conditions. Their future outlook is slightly better, increasing by two percentage points in the past year.

How would you rate the overall state of moral values in this country today -- as excellent, good, only fair or poor?

	Excellent	Good	Only fair	Poor	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2021 May 3-18	1	15	37	47	*
2020 May 1-13	2	18	38	40	*
2019 May 1-12	2	15	36	47	1
2018 May 1-10	1	13	37	49	1
2017 May 3-7	1	16	36	45	1
2016 May 4-8	1	17	36	43	2
2015 May 6-10	2	17	34	45	1
2014 May 8-11	2	19	36	42	1
2013 May 2-7	1	18	36	44	*
2012 May 3-6	2	18	36	43	2
2011 May 5-8	3	20	38	38	1
2010 May 3-6	1	14	38	45	1
2009 May 7-10	2	15	37	45	1
2008 May 8-11	2	13	41	44	1
2007 May 10-13	1	16	39	44	1
2006 May 8-11	1	13	43	42	2
2005 May 2-5	2	17	40	39	2
2004 Nov 19-21	4	22	41	32	1
2004 May 2-4	1	18	40	40	1
2003 May 5-7	2	20	42	35	1
2002 May 6-9	1	17	41	40	1
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Right now, do you think the state of moral values in the country as a whole is getting better or getting worse?

	Getting better	Getting worse	Same (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2021 May 3-18	28	67	3	2
2020 May 1-13	27	68	4	1
2019 May 1-12	19	77	3	1
2018 May 1-10	18	77	3	1
2017 May 3-7	16	77	4	2
2016 May 4-8	20	73	5	2
2015 May 6-10	22	72	4	2
2014 May 8-11	18	74	7	1
2013 May 2-7	20	72	6	2
2012 May 3-6	19	73	5	2
2011 May 5-8	22	69	6	4
2010 May 3-6	14	76	7	4
2009 May 7-10	21	71	6	1
2008 May 8-11	11	81	6	3
2007 May 10-13	11	82	4	2
2006 May 8-11	11	81	6	3
2005 May 2-5	16	77	5	2
2004 Nov 19-21	27	64	7	2
2004 May 2-4	16	77	5	2
2003 May 5-7	24	67	7	2
2002 May 6-9	24	67	7	2
(vol.) = Volunteered response
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read you a list of issues. Regardless of whether or not you think it should be legal, for each one, please tell me whether you personally believe that in general it is morally acceptable or morally wrong. How about ...?

	Morally acceptable	Morally wrong	Depends (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
Abortion
2021 May 3-18	47	46	6	1
2020 May 1-13	44	47	9	1
2019 May 1-12	42	50	6	1
2018 May 1-10	43	48	7	1
2017 May 3-7	43	49	7	2
2016 May 4-8	43	47	9	2
2015 May 6-10	45	45	8	2
2014 May 8-11	42	48	8	1
2013 May 2-7	42	49	8	2
2012 May 3-6	38	51	9	2
2011 May 5-8	39	51	7	3
2010 May 3-6	38	50	9	3
2009 May 7-10	36	56	6	1
2008 May 8-11	40	48	10	2
2007 May 10-13	40	51	7	1
2006 May 8-11	43	44	11	2
2005 May 2-5	40	51	8	1
2004 May 2-4	40	50	8	2
2003 May 5-7	37	53	9	1
2002 May 6-9	38	53	8	1
2001 May 10-14	42	45	11	2
The death penalty
2021 May 3-18	55	40	5	1
2020 May 1-13	54	40	5	1
2019 May 1-12	60	35	5	1
2018 May 1-10	62	33	4	1
2017 May 3-7	58	35	6	2
2016 May 4-8	59	34	6	1
2015 May 6-10	60	33	5	2
2014 May 8-11	61	30	7	3
2013 May 2-7	62	31	5	2
2012 May 3-6	58	34	6	1
2011 May 5-8	65	28	5	2
2010 May 3-6	65	26	7	2
2009 May 7-10	62	30	6	2
2008 May 8-11	62	30	5	3
2007 May 10-13	66	27	5	2
2006 May 8-11	71	22	5	2
2005 May 2-5	70	25	4	1
2004 May 2-4	65	28	4	3
2003 May 5-7	64	31	4	1
2002 May 6-9	65	28	5	2
2001 May 10-14	63	27	7	3
Doctor-assisted suicide
2021 May 3-18	54	43	2	1
2020 May 1-13	51	43	5	1
2019 May 1-12	52	44	2	1
2018 May 1-10	54	42	3	1
2017 May 3-7	57	37	4	2
2016 May 4-8	53	41	4	3
2015 May 6-10	56	37	4	2
2014 May 8-11	52	43	3	1
2013 May 2-7	45	49	4	1
2012 May 3-6	45	48	4	3
2011 May 5-8	45	48	5	2
2010 May 3-6	46	46	6	2
2008 May 8-11	51	44	3	1
2007 May 10-13	49	44	5	2
2006 May 8-11	50	41	6	2
2005 May 2-5	49	46	4	1
2004 May 2-4	53	41	3	3
2003 May 5-7	45	49	5	1
2002 May 6-9	50	44	4	2
2001 May 10-14	49	40	8	3
Medical testing on animals
2021 May 3-18	52	44	2	1
2020 May 1-13	56	39	4	1
2019 May 1-12	51	44	3	1
2018 May 1-10	54	43	2	1
2017 May 3-7	51	44	3	2
2016 May 4-8	53	41	4	2
2015 May 6-10	56	39	3	1
2014 May 8-11	57	38	4	2
2013 May 2-7	56	39	3	1
2012 May 3-6	55	38	4	3
2011 May 5-8	55	38	4	3
2010 May 3-6	59	34	4	3
2009 May 7-10	57	36	5	2
2008 May 8-11	56	38	3	3
2007 May 10-13	59	37	3	2
2006 May 8-11	61	32	5	2
2005 May 2-5	66	30	2	2
2004 May 2-4	62	32	4	2
2003 May 5-7	63	33	3	1
2002 May 6-9	63	30	3	4
2001 May 10-14	65	26	5	4
Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur
2021 May 3-18	55	43	1	1
2020 May 1-13	54	43	2	*
2019 May 1-12	53	45	1	1
2018 May 1-10	60	37	1	2
2017 May 3-7	57	39	2	2
2016 May 4-8	59	37	2	3
2015 May 6-10	61	35	2	2
2014 May 8-11	58	37	2	3
2013 May 2-7	59	36	2	3
2012 May 3-6	60	35	2	2
2011 May 5-8	56	39	3	3
2010 May 3-6	60	35	2	3
2009 May 7-10	61	35	1	2
2008 May 8-11	54	39	3	3
2007 May 10-13	58	38	2	3
2006 May 8-11	62	32	2	4
2005 May 2-5	64	32	2	2
2004 May 2-4	63	31	2	4
2003 May 5-7	60	36	2	2
2002 May 6-9	59	35	2	4
2001 May 10-14	60	32	2	6
Sex between an unmarried man and woman
2021 May 3-18	73	26	1	1
2020 May 1-13	72	27	1	1
2019 May 1-12	71	28	1	1
2018 May 1-10	69	28	1	1
2017 May 3-7	69	28	1	3
2016 May 4-8	67	30	1	2
2015 May 6-10	68	29	1	3
2014 May 8-11	66	31	1	2
2013 May 2-7	63	33	1	3
2012 May 3-6	59	38	1	3
2011 May 5-8	60	36	1	3
2010 May 3-6	59	38	1	2
2009 May 7-10	57	40	1	1
2008 May 8-11	61	36	1	2
2007 May 10-13	59	38	1	2
2006 May 8-11	59	37	2	2
2005 May 2-5	58	39	2	1
2004 May 2-4	60	36	1	3
2003 May 5-7	58	41	1	1
2002 May 6-9	53	42	2	3
2001 May 10-14	53	42	3	2
Married men and women having an affair
2021 May 3-18	10	89	1	1
2020 May 1-13	9	89	1	1
2019 May 1-12	9	89	1	1
2018 May 1-10	10	88	1	1
2017 May 3-7	9	88	1	1
2016 May 4-8	10	88	1	1
2015 May 6-10	8	89	1	1
2014 May 8-11	7	91	1	1
2013 May 2-7	6	91	2	1
2012 May 3-6	7	89	2	2
2011 May 5-8	7	91	1	1
2010 May 3-6	6	92	1	1
2009 May 7-10	6	92	1	2
2008 May 8-11	7	91	1	1
2007 May 10-13	6	91	2	1
2006 May 8-11	4	93	2	1
2005 May 2-5	5	93	1	1
2004 May 2-4	7	91	1	1
2003 May 5-7	6	93	*	1
2002 May 6-9	9	87	1	3
2001 May 10-14	7	89	3	1
Divorce
2021 May 3-18	79	17	4	*
2020 May 1-13	77	18	4	*
2019 May 1-12	77	20	2	*
2018 May 1-10	76	20	3	1
2017 May 3-7	73	20	6	1
2016 May 4-8	72	19	7	2
2015 May 6-10	71	20	7	1
2014 May 8-11	69	22	8	2
2013 May 2-7	68	24	6	2
2012 May 3-6	67	25	7	2
2011 May 5-8	69	23	7	1
2010 May 3-6	69	23	7	1
2009 May 7-10	62	30	6	1
2008 May 8-11	70	22	6	1
2007 May 10-13	65	26	8	1
2006 May 8-11	67	24	8	2
2005 May 2-5	66	27	6	1
2004 May 2-4	66	26	6	2
2003 May 5-7	66	27	6	1
2002 May 6-9	63	28	8	1
2001 May 10-14	59	28	12	1
Cloning animals
2021 May 3-18	36	63	1	1
2020 May 1-13	34	62	1	3
2019 May 1-12	31	66	1	2
2018 May 1-10	40	51	1	2
2017 May 3-7	32	63	1	3
2016 May 4-8	34	60	2	5
2015 May 6-10	34	60	2	4
2014 May 8-11	34	60	1	4
2013 May 2-7	34	60	1	4
2012 May 3-6	34	60	2	5
2011 May 5-8	32	62	2	4
2010 May 3-6	31	63	1	5
2009 May 7-10	34	63	1	3
2008 May 8-11	33	61	2	4
2007 May 10-13	36	59	2	4
2006 May 8-11	29	65	2	4
2005 May 2-5	35	61	1	3
2004 May 2-4	32	64	1	3
2003 May 5-7	29	68	1	2
2002 May 6-9	29	66	3	2
2001 May 10-14	31	63	2	4
Cloning humans
2021 May 3-18	13	86	*	1
2020 May 1-13	12	85	1	2
2019 May 1-12	12	85	*	2
2018 May 1-10	16	81	1	1
2017 May 3-7	14	83	*	3
2016 May 4-8	13	81	2	5
2015 May 6-10	15	81	1	3
2014 May 8-11	13	83	2	3
2013 May 2-7	13	83	1	4
2012 May 3-6	10	86	1	3
2011 May 5-8	12	84	1	3
2010 May 3-6	9	88	*	4
2009 May 7-10	9	88	*	3
2008 May 8-11	11	85	1	2
2007 May 10-13	11	86	1	2
2006 May 8-11	8	88	1	3
2005 May 2-5	9	87	1	3
2004 May 2-4	9	88	1	2
2003 May 5-7	8	90	1	1
2002 May 6-9	7	90	2	1
2001 May 10-14	7	88	1	4
Suicide
2021 May 3-18	19	77	2	1
2020 May 1-13	18	76	2	4
2019 May 1-12	17	79	2	2
2018 May 1-10	20	75	2	4
2017 May 3-7	18	76	2	3
2016 May 4-8	18	73	5	4
2015 May 6-10	19	73	3	4
2014 May 8-11	19	74	3	3
2013 May 2-7	16	77	3	4
2012 May 3-6	14	80	3	3
2011 May 5-8	15	80	2	2
2010 May 3-6	15	77	3	4
2009 May 7-10	15	80	2	3
2008 May 8-11	15	78	3	4
2007 May 10-13	16	78	3	3
2006 May 8-11	15	78	3	4
2005 May 2-5	13	82	3	2
2004 May 2-4	15	79	3	3
2003 May 5-7	14	81	2	3
2002 May 6-9	12	83	3	2
2001 May 10-14	13	78	6	3
Stem cell research using human embryos
2021 May 3-18	64	34	1	1
2020 May 1-13	66	31	2	1
2019 May 1-12	64	31	2	3
2018 May 1-10	66	29	2	3
2017 May 3-7	61	33	3	3
2016 May 4-8	60	32	3	5
2015 May 6-10	64	29	3	4
2014 May 8-11	65	27	3	4
2013 May 2-7	60	32	3	5
2012 May 3-6	58	33	3	6
2011 May 5-8	62	30	3	5
2010 May 3-6	59	32	3	6
2009 May 7-10	57	36	2	5
2008 May 8-11	62	30	3	5
2007 May 10-13	64	30	2	4
2006 May 8-11	61	30	3	6
2005 May 2-5	60	33	3	4
2004 May 2-4	54	37	3	6
2003 May 5-7	54	38	3	5
2002 May 6-9	52	39	2	7
Having a baby outside marriage
2021 May 3-18	67	32	1	*
2020 May 1-13	66	32	2	1
2019 May 1-12	64	34	1	1
2018 May 1-10	65	32	2	2
2017 May 3-7	62	33	3	2
2016 May 4-8	62	34	3	2
2015 May 6-10	61	35	2	2
2014 May 8-11	58	38	2	2
2013 May 2-7 ^	60	36	2	2
2012 May 3-6	54	42	2	1
2011 May 5-8	54	41	2	2
2010 May 3-6	54	40	4	2
2009 May 7-10	51	45	3	2
2008 May 8-11	55	41	2	1
2007 May 10-13	54	42	2	2
2006 May 8-11	51	43	4	1
2005 May 2-5	54	43	2	1
2004 May 2-4	49	45	3	3
2003 May 5-7	51	46	2	1
2002 May 6-9	45	50	3	2
Gambling
2021 May 3-18	68	30	1	2
2020 May 1-13	71	27	1	1
2019 May 1-12	68	31	1	1
2018 May 1-10	69	28	1	2
2017 May 3-7	65	29	2	4
2016 May 4-8	67	27	2	3
2015 May 6-10	67	27	1	3
2014 May 8-11	62	33	3	3
2013 May 2-7	64	31	2	2
2012 May 3-6	64	31	2	3
2011 May 5-8	64	31	2	3
2010 May 3-6	61	34	3	2
2009 May 7-10	58	36	2	4
2008 May 8-11	63	32	2	3
2007 May 10-13	63	32	2	2
2006 May 8-11	60	34	2	3
2005 May 2-5	64	32	2	2
2004 May 2-4	66	30	1	3
2003 May 5-7	63	34	2	1
Polygamy
2021 May 3-18	20	78	1	1
2020 May 1-13	20	78	1	1
2019 May 1-12	18	80	1	1
2018 May 1-10	19	78	1	1
2017 May 3-7	17	80	1	2
2016 May 4-8	14	82	1	3
2015 May 6-10	16	81	1	2
2014 May 8-11	14	84	1	1
2013 May 2-7	14	83	1	2
2012 May 3-6	11	86	2	1
2011 May 5-8	11	86	1	1
2010 May 3-6	7	90	1	1
2009 May 7-10	7	91	1	2
2008 May 8-11	8	90	1	1
2007 May 10-13	8	90	1	1
2006 May 8-11	5	93	1	2
2005 May 2-5	6	92	1	1
2004 May 2-4	7	91	1	1
2003 May 5-7	7	92	1	*
Gay or lesbian relations
2021 May 3-18	69	30	*	1
2020 May 1-13	66	32	1	1
2019 May 1-12	63	35	*	1
2018 May 1-10	67	30	1	2
2017 May 3-7	63	33	1	3
2016 May 4-8	60	37	1	3
2015 May 6-10	63	34	1	3
2014 May 8-11	58	38	2	3
2013 May 2-7	59	38	1	2
2012 May 3-6	54	42	1	4
2011 May 5-8	56	39	1	4
2010 May 3-6	52	43	1	4
2009 May 7-10	49	47	1	4
2008 May 8-11	48	48	1	3
2007 May 10-13	47	49	2	2
2006 May 8-11	44	51	1	3
2005 May 2-5 ^	45	51	1	3
2004 May 2-4	42	54	1	3
2003 May 5-7	44	52	2	2
2002 May 6-9	38	55	2	5
2001 May 10-14	40	53	3	4
Pornography
2021 May 3-18	40	58	1	1
2020 May 1-13	36	61	2	1
2019 May 1-12	37	61	1	1
2018 May 1-10	43	55	1	1
2017 May 3-7	36	61	2	1
2016 May 4-8	34	61	2	2
2015 May 6-10	34	62	2	3
2014 May 8-11	33	64	2	1
2013 May 2-7	31	66	1	2
2012 May 3-6	31	64	3	2
2011 May 5-8	30	66	1	3
Birth control
2021 May 3-18	90	7	1	2
2020 May 1-13	90	7	1	2
2019 May 1-12	92	6	*	1
2018 May 1-10	91	6	1	2
2017 May 3-7	91	6	1	2
2016 May 4-8	89	6	2	3
2015 May 6-10	89	8	1	2
2014 May 8-11	90	7	1	1
2013 May 2-7	91	6	2	3
2012 May 3-6	89	8	2	1
Sex between teenagers
2021 May 3-18	43	52	4	1
2020 May 1-13	38	56	4	2
2019 May 1-12	38	58	3	1
2018 May 1-10	42	54	3	1
2017 May 3-7	36	59	2	3
2016 May 4-8	37	56	4	3
2015 May 6-10	37	56	3	3
2014 May 8-11	30	64	3	3
2013 May 2-7	32	62	2	3
Changing one's gender
2021 May 3-18	46	51	2	*
Drinking alcohol
2020 May 1-13	86	12	1	*
2019 May 1-12	79	19	1	*
2018 May 1-10 ^	78	19	3	1
Smoking marijuana
2020 May 1-13	70	28	2	*
2019 May 1-12	65	33	1	1
2018 May 1-10 ^	65	31	3	2
* Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response; ^ Asked of a half sample
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 moral and ethical climate?

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Very dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2021	3	15	28	53	1
2020	6	26	29	39	*
2019	6	20	33	39	2
2018	5	23	32	39	1
2017	6	25	30	39	1
2016	4	27	30	37	2
2015	7	25	29	36	3
2014	5	30	30	32	3
2013	6	29	27	36	2
2012	5	23	32	36	3
2011	5	25	32	37	2
2008	6	33	32	27	2
2007	6	29	33	30	2
2006	5	28	34	32	2
2005	7	33	29	30	1
2004	5	30	36	28	1
2003	6	32	32	29	1
2002	9	38	28	24	1
2001	5	31	32	30	2
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

In your view, what is the most important problem with the state of moral values in the country today? [OPEN-ENDED]

	2012 May 3-6
	%
Consideration of others/Compassion/Caring/Tolerance/Respect	18
Lack of family structure/Divorce/Kids' upbringing	10
Lack of faith/Religion	10
Lack of morals	7
Sense of Entitlement/Government dependency	5
Greed/Selfishness	5
Poor leadership/Poor guidance	4
TV/Media/Internet	4
Dishonesty/Integrity/Deception	4
Sexuality/Teen pregnancy/Promiscuity	4
Abortion/Don't value life	3
Personal accountability/Responsibility	3
Homosexuality/Gay marriage	3
Lack of money/High cost of living/Poverty	2
Racism/Discrimination	2
Crime/Violence	2
Lack of Education	2
Drugs/Alcohol	1
Jobs	1
Economy	1
Pro-choice on abortion/Women's rights	1
Healthcare	*
Other	5
None/Nothing	6
Everything	1
No opinion	11
Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses
Gallup

Based on what you know or have read about the matter (whether religious-based employers should cover contraception for their employees as part of their health plans), do you sympathize more with the views of -- [ROTATED: religious leaders (or) the Obama administration]?

	Religious leaders	Obama administration	Both equally (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2012 Feb 16-19	48	45	1	7
Gallup

In what ways do you see moral values in the country getting better? [OPEN-ENDED]

Based on those who say moral values are getting better

	2010 May 3-6
	%
Better understanding about other people and cultures/More diversity/Less racism	25
Americans are pulling together in tough times	25
People are more honest, responsible	9
Young people more involved, have better values	6
More religion/People turning to God	5
Economy is improving	5
Obama/Democrats improving the situation	4
Greater focus, priority on family	2
Parents more involved/Getting better at raising children	2
Other	5
Nothing in particular	11
No opinion	7
Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses
Gallup

In what ways do you see moral values in the country getting worse? [OPEN-ENDED]

Based on those who say moral values are getting worse

	2010 May 3-6
	%
Declining moral values, standards	15
Disrespect of others	15
Parents not instilling values in children/Not spending time with	8
Dishonesty among government, business leaders	8
Rising crime/violence	8
Moving away from religion/church/God	7
Breakdown of family/Unwed mothers	7
People not accountable/responsible for behavior	7
People don't care	6
TV content -- cursing, sex, etc.	5
Sex/Promiscuity/Pornography	5
Government policies	4
Everyone is out for themselves	4
Abortion	3
The media	3
Greed	3
Gay/Lesbian relations	3
Lack of jobs	2
Teen pregnancy	2
Drugs	2
Illegal immigration	1
Computers/The Internet	1
Way teens/youth dress	1
Other	3
Nothing in particular (vol.)	2
No opinion	3
Percentages total more than 100% due to multiple responses
Gallup

Moral Issues

Related Topics Include:

The Five Conditions Assessment

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