In the August edition of the Reuters/Ipsos Core Political, data shows Americans remain concerned about the economy and crime. Just one in ten Americans think the country is headed in the right direction. President Joe Biden’s approval rating remains entrenched.
PRESIDENT
BIDEN
APPROVAL
RATING
Date: August 9, 2023
To learn more about our methodology, download the full report
(previously ‘president—elect’)
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
Joe Biden’s Job Approval
The latest survey shows that 54% of Americans disapprove of how he is handling his job, unchanged from April 2023.
Presidential Approval Rating
54%
60%
31%
54%
40%
2020
2021
2022
2023
What do Republicans, Democrats and independents think of how Biden is handling the presidency? Republicans do not approve of his job performance. Democrats are more supportive, and independents’ perceptions are in line with the general population.
(previously ‘president—elect’)
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
Joe Biden’s Job Approval by Partisanship
2023
2022
2021
2020
58%
Democrats
39%
91%
77%
60%
40%
31%
6%
Independents
All Americans
Republicans
% Strongly/Somewhat Agree
To learn more, read the complete analysis of our political survey
About one in five Americans say the economy is the most important problem facing the country.
Most Important Problem Facing the U.S
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing the U.S. today?
Most Important Problem Facing America
1 in 5
Total Approve
Totally Disapprove
20%
Economy, unemployment, and jobs
14%
Crime or corruption
8%
Environment & climate
10%
Immigration
7%
Inequality & discrimination
6%
Morality
6%
Healthcare system
3%
Terrorism & extremism
Public health, disease, & illness
2%
Abortion issues
2%
Education
2%
War & foreign conflicts
2%
Energy issues
1%
Other
12%
Don’t know
5%
Skipped
0%
Republicans, Democrats and independents are most likely to say that the economy is the top issue, but their second and third tier issues vary widely.
In your opnion, what is the most important problem facing the U.S. today?
Most Important Problem Facing America
Skipped
20%
Skipped
Economy, unemplo-ment, & jobs
War & foreign conflicts
Immigration
Terrorism & extremism
2%
8%
3%
7%
2%
Healthcare system
1%
Public health, disease & illness
6%
Energy issues
2%
Morality
14%
Education
10%
Crime or corruption
6%
Environment & climate
2%
Inequality & discrimination
12%
Abortion rights
5%
Other
0%
Don’t know
Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?
Right Direction/
Wrong Track
How do Americans feel about the direction of the country? Most are extremely pessimistic.
All Americans
13%
Right Direction
28%
4%
All Americans
Democrats
Republicans
11%
69%
90%
Right Direction
50%
Wrong Track
17%
21%
5%
20%
69%
Check out the latest news and interviews from Ipsos experts in the media for more political perspectives
Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President,
US, Public Affairs
chris.jackson@ipsos.com
Curious to learn more? Contact us!
Click to view data by party
President Biden Approval Rating
Date: August 9, 2023
In the August edition of the Reuters/Ipsos Core Political, data shows Americans remain concerned about the economy and crime. Just one in ten Americans think the country is headed in the right direction. President Joe Biden’s approval rating remains entrenched.
Total Disapprove
Biden’s Inauguration
(previously ‘president—elect’)
Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president?
Joe Biden’s Job
Approval by Partisanship
2023
2022
2021
2020
% Strongly/Somewhat Approve
54%
40%
91%
60%
58%
31%
Democrats
All Americans
Independents
Republicans
77%
40%
39%
6%
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing the U.S. today?
Most Important Problem Facing America
About one in five Americans say
the economy is the most important problem facing the country.
Most important problem facing the U.S
Republicans, Democrats and independents are most likely to say that the economy is the top issue, but their second and third tier issues vary widely.
Crime or corruption
14%
Environment and climate
10%
Immigration
8%
Healthcare System
7%
We asked Americans how they feel about the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president.
The latest survey shows that 54% of Americans disapprove of how he is handling his job, unchanged from April 2023.
We asked Americans how they feel about the way Joe Biden is handling his job as president.
Inequality and discrimination
6%
Morality
6%
Terrorism and extremism
3%
Abortion Issues
2%
2%
War and foreign conflicts
Education
2%
Public health, disease, and illness
2%
Energy issues
1%
Other
12%
Skipped
0%
In your opinion, what is the most important problem facing the U.S. today?
Most Important Problem
Facing America
Abortion rights
2%
0%
5%
2%
Inequality and discrimination
6%
1%
12%
6%
Environment and climate
10%
1%
18%
10%
Crime or corruption
15%
19%
9%
14%
Education
1%
2%
3%
2%
Morality
4%
10%
3%
6%
Energy issues
1%
1%
1%
1%
Public health, disease, and illness
2%
1%
2%
2%
Healthcare system
8%
4%
10%
7%
Terrorism and extremism
2%
2%
5%
3%
Immigration
8%
17%
2%
8%
War and foreign conflicts
3%
2%
1%
2%
Economy, unemployment, and jobs
23%
23%
15%
20%
Independents
Republicans
Democrats
All Americans
How do Americans feel about the direction of the country? Most are extremely pessimistic.
Other
12%
11%
11%
12%
Don't know
4%
3%
4%
5%
Refused
0%
0%
0%
0%
Generally speaking, would you say things in this country are heading in the right direction, or are they off on the wrong track?
Right Direction/ Wrong Track
Right Direction
Wrong Track
All Americans
Democrats
Republicans
Independents
13%
28%
4%
11%
69%
50%
90%
69%
Don't know
17%
21%
5%
20%
Curious to learn more? Contact us!
Chris Jackson
Senior Vice President,
US, Public Affairs
chris.jackson@ipsos.com
Biden’s Inauguration
40%
Annaleise Lohr
Director,
US, Public Affairs
annaleise.lohr@ipsos.com
40%
0%
4%
12%
2%
6%
10%
15%
1%
4%
1%
2%
8%
2%
8%
3%
23%
Independents
Download Top Line PDF
To learn more, read the complete analysis of our political survey
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Annaleise Lohr
Director,
US, Public Affairs
annaleise.lohr@ipsos.com
Refused
Don’t know
Other
Abortion rights
Inequality & discrimination
Environment & climate
Crime or corruption
Education
Morality
Energy issues
Public health, disease & illness
Healthcare system
Terrorism & extremism
Immigration
War & foreign conflicts
Economy, unemploy-ment, & jobs
0%
3%
11%
0%
1%
1%
19%
2%
10%
1%
1%
4%
2%
17%
2%
23%
0%
4%
11%
5%
12%
18%
9%
3%
3%
1%
2%
10%
5%
2%
1%
15%
Independents
All Americans
Don't Know
5%
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