American Views on Socialism Reach Highest Point Since 2010, Polls Show

Forty-three percent of Americans hold a positive view of socialism, the highest share recorded since Gallup began tracking this measure in 2010. The latest survey, conducted from August 3-24, indicates that socialism has gained favor over time as several market-oriented economic concepts have seen a decline in popularity. It now ranks ahead of "big business," which has fallen to a 35% positive rating from a peak of 58% in 2012.

Capitalism and free enterprise are still viewed more favorably than socialism. However, capitalism's positive rating has decreased to 55% from a peak of 61% in 2010 and 2012. Free enterprise is now favored by 77% of Americans, down from its peak of 89% in 2012. Small business remains the most favored economic system, with a relatively unchanged rating of 95% since 2010.

These figures, however, obscure significant partisan differences. Democrats view socialism much more favorably than Republicans, and their positive views have increased over time. In 2010, 50% of Democrats viewed socialism positively; this rose to 66% last year and remained at 65% this year. Socialism now matches free enterprise in favorability among Democrats, following a sharp decline in their positive views of free enterprise since 2021. Democrats have also viewed socialism more favorably than capitalism since 2016.

A CBS/YouGov poll conducted in mid-August found that 58% of Democrats viewed socialism positively, compared to 32% for capitalism. Among Democrats under 30, 61% described the U.S. economic system as somewhat or very unfair, with 43% viewing socialism positively compared to 38% for capitalism.

Socialism has also grown in popularity among political independents, accounting for the overall boost in its favorability in the latest Gallup poll. The share of independents rating socialism positively rose from 37% last year to 45%, surpassing "big business," which fell to a record low of 32%. Capitalism, free enterprise, and small business still ranked above socialism in favorability among independents.

Republicans remain largely skeptical of socialism, with only 14% viewing it positively. Large majorities of Republicans continue to hold positive views of small business, free enterprise, and capitalism. However, a significant portion of Republicans also expressed support for government intervention, with 54% favoring government price controls, according to the CBS/YouGov poll. A separate survey by Data for Progress found that 70% of respondents, including 58% of Republicans, believe the U.S. economic system is "rigged in favor of corporations and the wealthy."

Younger Americans, defined as those aged 18 to 34, are more receptive to socialism, with 57% viewing it positively compared to 43% for capitalism, according to Gallup. This pattern reverses among older adults, where 65% of those aged 55 and older view capitalism positively, while 34% view socialism positively. Among Americans aged 35 to 54, 50% rated capitalism positively and 45% rated socialism positively.

The CBS/YouGov poll also indicated that younger Americans are more likely to perceive shrinking economic opportunities. Fifty-four percent of adults under 30 said their opportunities to succeed are worse than their parents' generation's, with 80% stating that buying or owning a home is harder for their generation than previous generations. A majority of those under 30 also saw worse prospects for financial security and good jobs.

While views on socialism are shifting, some analysts note that progressive candidates have had mixed success in competitive districts. An analysis by the Cook Political Report in July found that center-left candidates dominated primaries in competitive House seats, suggesting that progressive victories may not necessarily indicate a nationwide leftward shift. The Brookings Institution noted that if left-wing nominees fail to win in swing districts, their mainstream presence could diminish.