Percentage of Americans feeling "extremely proud" slips to new low: poll

The percentage of U.S. citizens who feel "extremely proud" to be Americans has slipped to a new low at 52 percent, finds a newly-released Gallup poll.

This was down from 57 percent in 2013 and 70 percent in 2003, an indication that American patriotism keeps declining in the past two decades, according to the June 14-23 poll.

Americans' patriotism spiked after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, peaking at 70 percent in 2003, but has declined since, including an eight-point drop in early 2005 and a five-point drop since 2013, Gallup said.

"Americans' declining patriotism is likely related to broader dissatisfaction with the way things are going in the U.S.," Gallup said in a report.

In January 2004 when 69 percent of Americans were "extremely proud," 55 percent were satisfied with the way things were going in the U.S., but the percentage of being satisfied has mostly held below 30 percent since 2007.

Americans' patriotism stayed relatively flat from 2006 through 2013, but it has declined further in the past three years, Gallup said.

Since 2003, all major subgroups have shown significant declines in the percentage saying "extremely proud," with the largest decline in young adults aged 18-29, from 60 percent to 34 percent, according to the poll findings.

Political liberals (36 percent) join young adults as the least patriotic major subgroup today. Independents, Democrats, nonwhites and college graduates also show below-average patriotism, Gallup said.

Americans' continued frustration with national conditions -- likely tied to their concern about the economy and lack of faith in public institutions -- is probably one reason patriotism is at a recent low point, explained the polling company. Enditem