A record 43% of Americans now view socialism positively, the highest level Gallup has recorded since it began tracking the trend in 2010.
The figure, released Wednesday in the polling firm’s latest survey, marks the first time positive sentiment toward the far-left ideology has crossed the 40% threshold in fifteen years. The surge arrives as traditional economic pillars — capitalism, free enterprise and big business — have all lost ground with the public.
Independents delivered the most striking shift. Forty-five percent of self-identified independents now hold a favorable view of socialism, up eight points from 37% last year. Their confidence in big business simultaneously cratered to a record low of 32%, meaning independents now prefer socialism to major corporations by a double-digit margin.
Democrats have long driven the overall numbers upward. Two-thirds of progressives, 66%, now rate socialism positively, a sharp climb from 50% in 2010. Democrats as a whole have favored socialism over capitalism since 2016, and the latest poll shows socialism now tied with free enterprise at 65% favorable among party members. Their view of capitalism dropped seven points in a single year, falling from 42% in 2025 to just 35% today.
Republicans have remained largely unmoved. Large majorities within the GOP still rate small business, free enterprise and capitalism positively, while only 14% express any favorable sentiment toward socialism. Republican approval of big business has actually strengthened over the past 16 years, now standing at 62%.
The generational divide proved the most dramatic demographic split in the survey. Americans aged 18 to 34 view socialism more positively than capitalism by a 57% to 43% margin, a 14-point gap in favor of the left-wing economic system. Adults aged 35 to 54 see the two systems roughly equally. Those 55 and older reverse the pattern entirely, favoring capitalism over socialism by 65% to 34%, a 31-point differential.
Gender lines also separated sharply. Men expressed more positive views of capitalism than socialism by a two-to-one margin, 66% to 35%. Women broke the opposite direction, with 49% approving of socialism versus 45% for capitalism.
Income level correlated with economic ideology as well. Upper-income households earning $100,000 or more annually were more favorable toward free enterprise and capitalism than households making under $50,000.
Small business, capitalism and free enterprise still outrank socialism in overall national favorability. But the gap has narrowed significantly as the public’s confidence in corporate America and market economics continues to erode.
The Gallup findings reflect a long-term realignment in how Americans evaluate economic systems, with particular acceleration among younger voters and political independents who have grown skeptical of traditional market structures.
Gallup has tracked public attitudes toward socialism and capitalism since 2010, making this the first time the positive rating for socialism has exceeded 40% across the entire survey period.