Socialism is at an all-time high on the Gallup trend. 43% of Americans view socialism favorably as of August 2026. That's the highest it's been since the trend started in 2010, when the number was 39%. 57% of adults 18-34 view socialism favorably, while 43% view capitalism favorably. Similar numbers were found in a Cato Institute and Morning Consult poll on Generation Z. This will replace the old numbers from the Harris Poll and give us an idea of who believes this, why, and what it could lead to in November.
Key findings at a glance
- Overall: 43% of adults view socialism positively, up from 36% in 2010 and 39% in 2025. Capitalism stands at 55%, and free enterprise at 77% (Gallup).
- Age gap: 57% of adults ages 18 to 34 rate socialism positively, compared with 34% of those 55 and older (Gallup).
- Gen Z: 53% view socialism favorably and 45% view capitalism favorably (Cato/Morning Consult).
- Under 35: 68% have a positive or neutral view of socialism, against 47% for capitalism .
- Costs: 96% of 18 to 34-year-olds are concerned about rent, groceries, gas or utilities.
- Crisis: 46% of 18 to 29-year-olds call rising prices an urgent national crisis, and 40% say the same of housing costs.
How views of socialism differ by age
Age is the clearest dividing line in Gallup’s 2026 data. Adults 18 to 34 favor socialism over capitalism. Adults 55 and older do the opposite, by a wider margin.
Gender and income matter too. Women rate socialism at 49% and capitalism at 45%, while men rate them at 35% and 66%. Adults earning under $50,000 rate both at 47%. Those earning $100,000 or more rate capitalism at 65% and socialism at 40%.
How views have moved since 2010
Gallup polls showed little change for the past decade. With favorable opinions on socialism remaining around 35-39% from 2010 to 2025, and then climbing to 43%. While capitalism dropped 6 points over that period, free enterprise dropped 9 points and big business 14 points.
The source of this increase has changed, however. From 2010-2025, it was mainly driven by democrats increasing from 50% to 66%. 2026 saw this number increase as independents rose from 37% to 45%. With democrats staying constant at 65% and republicans at 14%.
Why young Americans are open to the label
These statistics show that people are suffering financially. In the Spring 2026 Harvard Youth Poll of 2,018 adults, aged 18-29, reported that they have been greatly affected by inflation. 41% reported being greatly affected by housing prices. 45% of respondents reported struggling or barely making ends meet. This increased to 57% of those who are not attending college or have not received a degree. Only 15% trust the federal government, the lowest level the poll has shown.
Similar results were shown in the Axios-Generation Lab Survey of 1,075 young adults ages 18-34, which was polled between July 29th and August 4th. 40% of respondents reported being very worried about the cost of living. Over half of respondents think they will become homeowners, but only half believe that will happen in the next 10 years. When asked which political party they think can help with the lower cost of living, 36% stated none of them, ahead of Democrats (26%) and Republicans (22%).
What young people mean by “socialism”
The word does not mean one thing to everyone. Cato noted that its 2025 YouGov survey, which found 62% of 18 to 29-year-olds favorable toward socialism, did not define the term. Gallup warns that its data do not show a wholesale move away from markets. Small businesses earn 95% positive ratings overall, and 69% of adults ages 18 to 34 still view free enterprise positively.
Generation Lab’s CEO told Axios that young people may see the label as an anti-establishment signal more than a worked-out economic plan.
Read polls with care:
- Pollsters differ. YouGov in 2025 found 62% of under-30s favorable, and Morning Consult in 2026 found 53% of Gen Z. The samples and age cutoffs differ, so this is not a decline.
- Wording matters. In the Cato survey, 38% of under-30s view communism favorably, against 21% of all adults.
- Age subgroups carry larger errors. Gallup’s overall margin is ±4 points.
What it means for the 2026 midterms
About 49 million adults aged 18 to 29 can vote this November, and CIRCLE estimates 8.5 million have aged in since 2024. About 47% are young people of color, including roughly 10.8 million Latino and 6.6 million Black youth. The Williams Institute estimates that Gen Z accounts for about 20% of the electorate.
Turnout is the open question. Over 40 million Gen Z adults were eligible in 2024, and more than 21 million did not vote. Intentions look stronger this year, with 74% of Gen Z respondents in the Williams Institute survey saying they will definitely or likely vote. Stated intent often runs ahead of actual turnout, so read it as intent, not a forecast.
Cost of living may shape how they vote. Rising costs ranked as a top priority for Gen Z respondents in the Williams survey. In the Axios-Generation Lab poll, 36% trusted neither party to lower living costs.
Names matter, too. In that poll, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drew 11.7% of Democratic respondents for 2028, behind Kamala Harris (28.7%) and Michelle Obama (14.9%). Among independents, Sen. Bernie Sanders drew 7.4%.
The bottom line
Young people are the biggest supporters of Socialism. This is the highest Gallup has seen for 2026 as well. Young adults, 18-34-year-olds, have stated that they prefer socialism to capitalism at 57% vs. 43%. When looking at Generation Z, we can see the same result with Cato's polling. It is difficult to pinpoint what they mean when asked these questions, but overall, capitalism is still viewed favorably by most. This might be due to the cost of living. Young adults have stated that they feel the effects of high costs for goods and homes. They do not think either political party will fix this issue. Polls show where young voters stand. Turnout will show whether they act on it.
Daniel Parker
is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.
