About the data

Analysis in this interactive utilize data collected for the Gallup Daily Tracking survey. Respondents were obtained through list-assisted random digit dial (70% cell phone, 30% landline) and randomly assigned to one of two surveys within the Daily Tracking survey—the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index or the Gallup Politics and Economy survey. Both surveys are interviewer-administered by telephone, may be completed in English or Spanish, and contain some of the same questions. Each year between 2012 and 2016, a sample of approximately 350,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and up who reside in the 50 states and the District of Columbia participated in the surveys. In 2017, Politics and Economy survey respondents were recruited daily, and those assigned to the Well-Being Index were recruited daily for the first half of 2017, then weekly starting in July 2017, resulting in a slightly smaller sample for 2017 (approximately 341,000). Data have been aggregated across surveys.

LGBT identification

LGBT identity is based on response to the question, “Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender?” Respondents who answered “yes” were classified as LGBT, those answering “no” were classified as non-LGBT. Those who did not answer the LGBT identity item (2017: 6.4% weighted, n=21,082; 2015-2017: 5.5% weighted, n=57,562; 2012-2017: 6.3% weighted, n=69,555), because they refused to answer the question or said “I don’t know,” were excluded from analyses; however, they are included in the denominator used to estimate % LGBT. All n’s are unweighted.

National (all and filtered by sex)

Data from 2017 are presented. All proportions are weighted using Gallup post-stratification national sampling weights and allow estimates to be representative of the U.S. national population.

National (filtered by race)

Aggregated data from 2015-2017 are presented. All proportions are weighted using Gallup post-stratification national sampling weights and allow estimates to be representative of the U.S. national population.

State (all and filtered by sex)

Aggregated data from 2015-2017 are presented for most states. Additional data collected from June 1, 2012 through December 31, 2017 were aggregated for 13 states with smaller samples (200 LGBT respondents in the 2015-2017 aggregated dataset): Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming. All proportions are weighted using Gallup post-stratification state sampling weights that account for differences in 2017 survey sampling fractions.

Unstable Estimate

"*" Indicates an unstable estimate due to an insufficient sample size (n<30) and/or 95% confidence interval width as per suppression guidance provided in Parker JD, Talih M, Malec DJ, et al. National Center for Health Statistics Data Presentation Standards for Proportions. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(175). 2017.

Gender

Respondents were classified as male or female, based on their response to the question, “I am required to ask, are you male or female?”

Raising Children

Children in household, among adults age 25 and over, defined as > 1 child under the age of 18 living in the respondent’s household. Only reported for respondents aged 25 and over. Question and sampling weight from the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index survey only.

Race and ethnicity

Race/ethnicity was defined on the basis of responses to two questions -- Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin (yes/no) and race (chose all that apply.) Respondents who indicated that they are Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish origin were classified as Latino/a or Hispanic and all non-Hispanic respondents were classified by race (single race or more than one race.) When estimates were unstable for specific racial/ethnic groups, these groups were aggregated and labeled all other races.

White/All Other Races

All other races includes respondents who were Latino/a or Hispanic, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or more than one race. Dichotomized race/ethnicity is reported when estimates for six or more race/ethnicity categories are unstable.

Age distribution

Dichotomized age is reported when estimates for more than one age category (18-24; 25-34; 35-49; 50-64; 65+) are unstable.

Educational attainment

≤ High school includes respondents who obtained a high school diploma or GED certificate as well as those who did not complete high school. Some college includes respondents who obtained any post-secondary school technical, vocational or college training that did not yield a four-year Bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s degree refers to a four-year degree from a college or university. > Bachelor's degree includes respondents who completed any schooling beyond the four-year degree.

college education

College education was defined as reporting having earned at least a four-year Bachelor’s degree (including those earning a Bachelor’s degree and any additional schooling) at the time they were surveyed. Only reported only for respondents aged 25 and over. Dichotomized college education is reported when two or more educational attainment categories (≤ High school; Some College; Bachelor’s degree; Post-graduate) are unstable.

Unemployed

Employment status among respondents in the labor force was dichotomized as either employed (including full-time or part-time employment), or unemployed (those currently unemployed, but actively looking for work and able to work).

Health Insurance

Question and sampling weight from the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index only for 2012 through 2016, and from both Gallup surveys in 2017.

Food Insecurity

Food insecurity was defined as ever “not having enough money to buy food that you or your family needed” in the past twelve months. Question and sampling weight from the Gallup-Sharecare Well-Being Index survey only.

Household Income

In 2017, the poverty threshold for a family of four was slightly over $25,086. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Preliminary Estimate of Weighted Average Poverty Thresholds for 2017.