A sweeping 36-page national study from Gallup and Charles F. Kettering Foundation finds that Americans remain deeply interested in civic life but continue to face persistent barriers that limit their participation, particularly among those with fewer resources and weaker ties to their communities.
“This study shows the multiple ways many citizens are participating, but too many still face obstacles preventing them from doing so,” Kettering Executive Vice President and COO John Dedrick said.
The report, based on responses from more than 20,000 adults surveyed in 2025, shows that just 25% of Americans believe the public’s role in the democratic process is working well, while 37% say it is working poorly.
At the same time, public engagement has not disappeared. Sixty-one percent of Americans report paying at least a moderate amount of attention to government and political matters, and nearly one-third have taken part in efforts to improve conditions in their communities within the past year.
Yet the study makes clear that interest alone has not translated into action. Thirty-six percent of Americans say they have wanted to participate in civic or community efforts but have not, revealing a significant gap between intent and involvement.
The report also shows that Americans remain divided on whether their voices carry weight. About 35% say ordinary citizens have a great deal or moderate power to create change, while 33% say citizens have very little or almost no power.
Perceptions of influence are closely tied to lived experience. Data in the report shows that people who are financially secure, strongly connected to their communities or regularly attend local events are far more likely to believe in citizen power than those who are struggling economically or socially disconnected.
Community engagement stands out as one of the strongest indicators of democratic confidence. Slightly more than half of Americans say they attend community events at least occasionally, and those who do are significantly more likely to believe democracy is functioning well and that citizens can influence outcomes.
Volunteering follows a similar pattern. Among those who reported volunteering in the past year, 44% believe citizens have meaningful power, compared with far lower levels among those who have not participated.
Barriers to participation remain widespread and often overlapping. Seventy-four percent of Americans report facing multiple obstacles that prevent them from engaging in civic life. Work or family obligations are the most frequently cited barrier at 47%, but other factors appear nearly as often, including not being invited or encouraged to participate, uncertainty about how to get involved and lack of knowledge about key issues.
The data shows that these barriers are not evenly distributed. Americans earning less than $36,000 annually or reporting financial hardship are significantly more likely to face four or more obstacles to participation and are far less likely to volunteer or attend community events.
Age also plays a role. Younger adults report the highest number of barriers, with nearly half saying they have wanted to volunteer but have not. Despite this, their actual participation rates are similar to other age groups, suggesting both interest and frustration among younger Americans.
The report identifies civic education as a major factor in bridging the gap between interest and action. Sixty-three percent of Americans say they received at least some civic education in school, and about half report informal civic learning from parents or other adults.
Those who experienced both formal and informal civic education are far more engaged. Forty-two percent of this group reported volunteering in the past year, compared with just 20% among those with little or no civic education. They are also more likely to say they know how to contact elected officials and feel comfortable expressing their views.
Civic education appears to matter more than formal schooling alone. The report shows that individuals with strong civic knowledge are more likely to participate in democracy regardless of whether they hold a college degree.
Social media introduces both opportunities and complications. Americans who spend more time on social platforms are more likely to feel represented and to believe their voices matter, but they also report higher levels of information overload and are less likely to agree that democracy is the best form of government.
Roughly 60% of Americans say they feel overwhelmed by information at least occasionally, with younger adults reporting the highest levels of overload. Among those who frequently feel overwhelmed, confidence in participating in civic life declines, including lower comfort in expressing opinions and greater uncertainty about how to get involved.
The report also notes the role of local networks in shaping civic engagement. Seventy-seven percent of Americans say family, friends and neighbors are key sources of information on issues that matter to them, surpassing elected officials, educators and business leaders.
Researchers found that individuals who rely on multiple local sources of information are more likely to believe citizens can create change and to view the public’s role in democracy more positively.
“The challenge is removing the barriers that keep too many people on the sidelines,” said Justin Lall, a principal at Gallup.
