Socialism's Positive Rating Tops 40% for First Time

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Forty-three percent of Americans now have a positive view of socialism, marking the first time this figure has exceeded 39% in Gallup’s trend since 2010. Socialism still trails capitalism and free enterprise in public favorability but now ranks ahead of big business. Small business remains the clear leader among the five economic concepts tested, with 95% viewing it positively.

Gallup has measured Americans’ overall views of these five economic concepts periodically since 2010, with the latest update conducted Aug. 3-24.

Over the longer term, Americans have become less positive about most of the market-oriented concepts Gallup tracks. Since 2010, positive views of big business have fallen by 14 percentage points, free enterprise by nine points and capitalism by six points. Small business is the exception, with views of it unchanged. Meanwhile, positive impressions of socialism have risen by seven points.

Most of the increase in socialism’s positive rating through 2025 reflected increasingly positive views among Democrats, rising from 50% in 2010 to 66% last year. The latest uptick, however, comes entirely from political independents, whose positive rating jumped from 37% last year to 45% today. Democrats’ rating is essentially unchanged, at 65%, while Republicans’ remains below 15%.

Partisans Differ Sharply in Views of Economic Concepts

Party subgroups differ not only in their views of socialism but increasingly in their views of capitalism and other market-oriented concepts.

Independents’ positive rating of socialism has risen by eight points this year, as their view of big business has fallen to a new low of 32% after several years of decline. Socialism now ranks ahead of big business among independents, although capitalism, free enterprise and small business remain more positively viewed.

Democrats’ views have shifted more substantially since 2010. Socialism surpassed capitalism among Democrats by 2016 and now ties free enterprise at 65%. This follows a sizable decline in Democrats’ positive rating of free enterprise since 2021.

Democrats’ positive rating of capitalism has also declined, from 42% last year to 35% today. Meanwhile, small business remains largely unaffected, with 93% of Democrats viewing it positively.

Republicans’ views have generally been more stable. Large majorities continue to view small business, free enterprise and capitalism positively, while 14% have a positive image of socialism. Positive views of big business have fluctuated and currently stand at 62%.

Strong Age Differences in Ratings of Capitalism and Socialism

In addition to sizable partisan differences in views of economic systems, perceptions also differ substantially by age, gender, race/ethnicity and household income, many of which largely reflect the partisan differences.

Most notably, positive ratings of capitalism and free enterprise are higher among older than younger age groups, while positive views of socialism are lower. Adults aged 18 to 34 view socialism more positively than capitalism (57% vs. 43%, respectively), while those aged 55 and older view capitalism more positively than socialism by an even larger margin (65% vs. 34%). Adults aged 35 to 54 rate the two systems about the same.

Additionally, men view capitalism more positively than socialism, while the pattern is reversed among women. Upper-income Americans (earning $100,000 or more in annual household income) are more positive than lower-income Americans (earning less than $50,000) toward free enterprise and capitalism. Lower-income Americans are more positive than upper-income Americans toward socialism, but their image of it still merely ties that of capitalism.

Bottom Line

Americans' views of economic concepts have shifted noticeably over the past 15 years. Capitalism, free enterprise and especially big business are viewed less positively than they once were, while socialism has gained ground. Those changes have been most pronounced among Democrats and younger adults, but this year's uptick in socialism's appeal reflects a novel shift among independents.

Yet the trends don’t indicate wholesale movement away from markets and toward socialism. Small business remains nearly universally popular, and free enterprise continues to receive broadly positive ratings — including among Democrats and younger adults, who are more positive toward socialism than other groups. Gallup’s recent open-ended research on Americans’ economic views reinforces this more nuanced picture, finding widespread support for free-market principles such as economic competition and market choice, even as Americans express concerns about capitalism’s potential to produce inequality and excessive corporate power.

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Learn more about how the Gallup Poll Social Series works. View complete question responses and trends (PDF download).