In U.S., Three-Quarters Identify Shared Values

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most Americans can identify at least one value from a list of 12 that they believe is widely shared in the country. Only a quarter say none of the values are still shared. Yet, there is little consensus on which values are widely shared, or which the country needs more of. Even so, 79% of Americans say respecting different values matters more than sharing the same ones, including 84% of Democrats, 81% of independents and 72% of Republicans.

These findings are based on a nationally representative survey of more than 3,000 U.S. adults who are members of Gallup’s probability-based panel, conducted May 12-22, 2026, by With Honor and Gallup.

Americans Most Often Cite Freedom, Patriotism, Service as Shared Values

Three in four Americans (76%) name at least one value from a list of 12 that they believe is shared by most Americans, “regardless of politics or background.” Fifty-nine percent select at least two values, and 46% select three or more.

Though no single value is selected by a majority of Americans, freedom (38%), patriotism (32%) and service (30%) receive the most mentions.

Relatively small percentages identify courage, honesty or integrity (13% each) as values shared by most Americans. Humility (10%) is least likely to be selected.

Overall, perceptions of shared values are largely similar across party, gender and racial/ethnic groups, but they differ by age. Adults aged 65 and older are more likely than those under 65 to view kindness as a shared value, with 33% selecting it, compared with 21% of adults aged 18 to 39 and 22% of those aged 40 to 64. Older adults are also more likely to identify service (39% vs. 26% and 28%, respectively) and patriotism (38% vs. 31% and 29%) as values most Americans share.

Most Americans Prioritize Respecting Different Values Over Sharing Values

Nearly eight in 10 U.S. adults (79%) say it is more important for people to respect different values, while 19% say it is more important for people to share the same values.

Majorities of all major demographic and partisan groups think that respecting differing values should be prioritized, though this view is slightly stronger among Democrats (84%) and independents (81%) than Republicans (72%).

This preference for respecting different values is consistent with Americans' expectations of public leaders. In the same survey, 70% said it is very important that elected leaders work across party lines, even when doing so could hurt their political careers.

The Values Americans Believe the Country Needs Most

When asked which three of the 12 values the country needs most today, Americans most often choose honesty (34%), responsibility (32%) and integrity (31%), followed by equality (29%) and fairness (26%).

Compared with perceptions of Americans’ shared values, demographic differences are considerably larger in perceptions of which values the nation needs most, with the largest gaps by age and political party.

Adults aged 65 and older are far more likely to say the country needs honesty (47% vs. 29% of those aged 18 to 39 and 32% of those aged 40 to 64) and patriotism (32% vs. 12% and 22%, respectively).

Democrats are far more likely to say the country needs equality, fairness and kindness, while Republicans are far more likely to say the country needs responsibility and patriotism.

Bottom Line

Most Americans believe the country retains at least some shared values, most often choosing freedom, patriotism and service as widely shared. Far fewer see character values such as courage, integrity and honesty as widely held.

With the nation marking its 250th anniversary this year, the findings reveal a range of perspectives on the values Americans believe the country needs moving forward and the ones they already share. Yet large majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents say respecting different values matters more than sharing the same ones. Perhaps, then, the ultimate shared value is that Americans agree to disagree.

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