As divisive as things get these days, it’s easy to lose track of who the average American really is.
Based on Census data, Pew and Gallup polls and more, we’ve identified some simple facts that are true about the majority of the 311,591,917 Americans.
The majority of Americans are over 30. America has the 42nd highest median age in the world.
Source: UN & CIA World Factbook 2009
50 percent of Americans support legalizing weed (only 46 percent opposed). A full 70 percent support medical marijuana.
Source: 2011 Gallup Poll
50.5 percent of Americans pay federal income tax.
51 percent of US adults are married, down from 72 percent in 1960.
Source: A 2011 Pew poll of Americans over the age of 18.
61 percent of American adults have an immediate family member who served in the military.
Source: Pew Research 2011
64 percent of Americans are white. White people dominate in northern and inner states.
Source: 2010 Census
66 percent of Americans are overweight. This number has doubled since the 1950s.
Source: CDC
77 percent of US adults believe abortion should be legal under some circumstances.
Source: A 2011 Gallup poll of Americans of the age of 18.
78 percent of American adults use the Internet.
Source: Pew Research 2011
79 percent live in an urban area. Population density is higher in the east.
Source: 2010 Census FactFinder
80 percent of Americans speak only English at home
Source: NCCP
84 percent of Americans have health insurance. But only 59 percent of those under 65 have employer-sponsored health insurance.
Source: CNN
85 percent of Americans over 25 are high school graduates. This percentage has surged over the past century.
Source: U.S. Census
85 percent of American adults own a cell phone.
Source: Pew Research 2011
92 percent of American adults may believe in God or a universal spirit.
Source: Pew Research 2011
