Generation gap in confidence in nation's future is not new % saying they have "quite a lot of confidence in the future of the United States 2015
In a survey of attitudes about government conducted last fall, just 37% of Millennials said they had “quite a lot of confidence” in the future of the United States, compared with 45% of Gen Xers, 49% of Boomers and 56% of the Silent Generation.
Two decades ago, Gen Xers, then in their teens and 20s, stood out for their lack of confidence in the nation’s future. In 1994, just 30% of Gen Xers said they had quite a lot of confidence in the future of the U.S. Among older generations at the time – Boomers and Silents – half or more had a lot of confidence in the nation’s future.
And two decades before that, Boomers were less bullish than their elders in assessing the nation’s future. In 1975, when Boomers were the youngest generation, 49% had a great deal of confidence in the future of the U.S., compared with 62% of Silents and 67% of the Greatest Generation.
Generation gap in confidence  | in nation's future is not new  | % saying they have "quite a lot of confidence in the  | future of the United States  | 2015  | Millennia (18-34)  | 37  | Millennia (18-34)  | Gen X  | 1994 1975 Millennia (18-34) Greatest (48-60 (35-50) (51-69) (70-37) (49-65 (18-29) (30-47) (18-29) (30-48) Boomer Boomer Boomer Silent Silent Silent Gen Gen X X INTERTICALLY 37 49 54 56 62 67  | (35-50)  | (51-69) Boomer  | INTERTICALLY 49  | (51-69) Boomer  | Silent  | INTERTICALLY 56  | (70-37)  | 1994  | Gen X  | (18-29)  | Boomer  | (30-48)  | Silent  | INTERTICALLY 54  | 1975  | Boomer  | (18-29)  | Silent  | 62  | (30-47)  | Greatest  | 67  | (48-60  | Source Survev conducted Aug 27-0ct 4. 2015 Data for 1994 from  | survey conducted by PSRA/Newsweek. Data for 1975 from survey  | conducted by Gallup.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 