New High of 45% in U.S. Identify as Political Independents
More independents lean Democratic than Republican, giving Democrats edge in party affiliation for first time since 2021, by Jeffrey M. Jones
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A record-high 45% of U.S. adults identified as political independents in 2025, surpassing the 43% measured in 2014, 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, equal shares of U.S. adults — 27% each — identified as either Democrats or Republicans.
In most years since Gallup began regularly conducting its polls by telephone in 1988, independents have been the largest political group. However, the independent percentage has increased markedly in the past 15 years, typically registering 40% or higher, a level not reached prior to 2011.
The 2025 findings are based on interviews with more than 13,000 U.S. adults throughout the year. In each survey, Gallup asks U.S. adults whether they identify politically as a Republican, a Democrat or an independent.
The recent increase in independent identification is partly attributable to younger generations of Americans (millennials and Generation X) continuing to identify as independents at relatively high rates as they have gotten older.
In contrast, older generations of Americans have been less likely to identify as independents over time. Generation Z, like previous generations before them when they were young, identify disproportionately as political independents.
In 2025, majorities of Gen Z adults and millennials identified as political independents, as did more than four in 10 Gen X adults. One-third or less of baby boomers and Silent Generation adults were politically independent.
Party
Identification by Birth Cohort, 2025
In politics, as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an independent?
As of today, do you lean more to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party?
This split bar chart shows the percentages of U.S. adults in each generation who identify as Republicans, independents or Democrats. For Generation Z, 17% identify as Republican, 56% as independent and 27% as Democrat. Among millennials, 21% identify as Republican, 54% as independent and 24% as Democrat. Generation X is more evenly divided, with 31% Republican, 42% independent and 25% Democrat. Baby boomers show 34% Republican, 33% independent and 32% Democrat. The Silent Generation has the highest Republican identification, at 37%, with 30% independent and 32% Democrat.
In politics, as of today, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat or an independent? As of today, do you lean more to the Democratic Party or the Republican Party?
Generation
Z (born 1997-2007)
Republican
17%
Independent
56%
Democrat 27%
Millennials
(born 1981-1996)
Republican
21%
Independent
54%
Democrat 24%
Generation
X (born 1965-1980)
Republican
31%
Independent
42%
Democrat 25%
Baby
boomers (born 1946-1964)
Republican
34%
Independent
33%
Democrat 32%
Silent
Generation (born before 1946)
Republican
37%
Independent
30%
Democrat 32%
Based on annual averages of Gallup telephone interview data
The higher rate of political independence also results from younger adults today being more likely than young adults in the past to identify as independents. The 56% of Gen Z adults identifying as independents today compares with 47% of millennials in 2012 and 40% of Gen X adults in 1992.
Democratic-Leaning
Independents Give Democrats Edge
Gallup has regularly asked political independents since 1991 whether they lean more toward the Republican or Democratic Party.
Last year, more political independents said they lean toward the Democratic Party than the Republican Party, with the 45% of political independents breaking down into 20% Democratic leaners, 15% Republican leaners and 10% non-leaners. That is a shift from 2024, representing a three-point decline in Republican leaners and a three-point increase in Democratic leaners.
Between 2024 and 2025, identification with both the Republican and Democratic parties fell by one percentage point.
Conservative Lead in Ideology Narrowest Yet
In addition to asking Americans for their party identification and leanings, Gallup asks respondents in each survey to describe their political views using a scale ranging from very liberal to very conservative. As usual, more Americans in 2025 described their views as “very conservative” or “conservative” (35%) than as “very liberal” or “liberal” (28%), with 33% identifying as “moderate.” However, the seven-point conservative advantage over liberals in 2025 is the smallest Gallup has measured in annual averages dating back to 1992. It is only the third time the conservative lead has been less than 10 points.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/700499/new-high-identify-political-independents.aspx
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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