50 Fascinating Facts


Americans are fascinating. Inspiring. And unique. Join us as we tell the stories behind the trends shaping America today—one fact at a time. Follow along on Twitter or Instagram at #50Facts. 

Finding Meaning

In tough times like these, many people turn to their faith. See how religious objects provide meaning in three Americans’ lives.

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at a glance

61%

of Americans
who did not vote in the 2018 midterms said they wish they had
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9 in 10
Americans age 25 and older
have a high school diploma—the biggest share of graduates in U.S. history
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79%

of U.S. veterans
say they would advise a young person close to them to join the military
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California
the state
with the highest percentage of people over age 5 who speak a language other than English at home — 44%
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4 in 10
American adults
believe spiritual energy can be found in physical objects
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86%
of full-time workers
have access to paid sick leave, as of 2019
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38%

of Americans
say they limit their sugar intake
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16.5%

of active-duty military personnel
were women in FY 2018 — up from 9% in 1980
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42%

of Americans
live in or near the community where they grew up
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26%

of U.S. adults
identify themselves religiously as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular
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585K
the approximate number of Americans
participating in registered apprenticeship programs in the U.S. in fiscal year 2018
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28

the median age
at first marriage for women in 2018—compared with 21 in 1968
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53%

of Americans 65 and older
own a smartphone in 2019—nearly 5x the share in 2011
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46%

of U.S. adults
say they feel a deep sense of wonder about the universe at least once a week
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24%

of Americans
say they earn money from digital gig platforms
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53%

of Millennials
said in 2016 that they had used a public library in the last year—more than in any other adult generation
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40%

of Americans living in rural areas
say they know all or most of their neighbors
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69%
of Americans
mentioned "family" when asked to name what provides them with a sense of meaning in life
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30

the median age
at first marriage for men in 2018—compared with 23 in 1968
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58%

of rural Americans
say access to high-speed internet is a problem in their area
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24%

of American adults
met federal guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity in 2017—up from 18% in 2008
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7%
of fathers
are stay-at-home dads as of 2016—compared with 4% in 1989
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59%

of Americans
say they feel at least somewhat attached to the local community where they live
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21%

of American adults
say they were raised by two people with different religions
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86%

of women ages 40 to 44
were mothers in 2016, compared with 80% a decade earlier
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Fascinating Fact #26: 61% of Americans who did not vote in the 2018 midterms said they wish they had.

Why Some Americans Didn’t Check the Box in 2018

Fascinating Fact #26: 61% of Americans who did not vote in the 2018 midterms said they wish they had.

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Fascinating Fact #25: 9 in 10 Americans age 25 and older have a high school diploma — the biggest share of graduates in U.S. history

Most Americans Have High School Diplomas

Fascinating Fact #25: 9 in 10 Americans age 25 and older have a high school diploma — the biggest share of graduates in U.S. history

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Fascinating Fact #24: 79% of U.S. veterans say they would advise a young person close to them to join the military

Most of America’s Veterans Agree on This

Fascinating Fact #24: 79% of U.S. veterans say they would advise a young person close to them to join the military

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Fascinating Fact #23: 15% of school-age kids in America have no internet access at home

The Homework Gap

Fascinating Fact #23: 15% of school-age kids in America have no internet access at home

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Fascinating Fact #22: At 84%, residents of Colorado have the highest self-reported rate of physical activity of any U.S. state, as of 2018

How Does Colorado Stay Fit?

Fascinating Fact #22: At 84%, residents of Colorado have the highest self-reported rate of physical activity of any U.S. state, as of 2018

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Fascinating Fact #21: California the state with the highest percentage of people over age 5 who speak a language other than English at home — 44%

The Golden State Is a Multilingual Land

Fascinating Fact #21: California the state with the highest percentage of people over age 5 who speak a language other than English at home — 44%

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Fascinating Fact #20: 24% of the civilian workforce in the U.S. don't have paid sick leave

Fascinating Fact #20: 24% of the civilian workforce in the U.S. don't have paid sick leave

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Fascinating Fact #19: 38% of Americans say they limit their sugar intake

How Much Sugar Do Americans Really Consume?

Fascinating Fact #19: 38% of Americans say they limit their sugar intake

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Fascinating Fact #18: 42% of Americans live in or near the community where they grew up

No Place Like Home

Fascinating Fact #18: 42% of Americans live in or near the community where they grew up

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Fascinating Fact #17: 585K the approximate number of Americans participating in registered apprenticeship programs in the U.S. in fiscal year 2018

Labor of Love

Fascinating Fact #17: 585K the approximate number of Americans participating in registered apprenticeship programs in the U.S. in fiscal year 2018

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Fascinating Fact #16: 16.5% of active-duty military personnel were women in FY 2018 — up from 9% in 1980

Women in the Military

Fascinating Fact #16: 16.5% of active-duty military personnel were women in FY 2018 — up from 9% in 1980

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Fascinating Fact #15: 7% of fathers are stay at home dads as of 2016 — compared to 4% in 1989

More Dads Staying at Home

Fascinating Fact #15: 7% of fathers are stay at home dads as of 2016 — compared to 4% in 1989

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Fascinating Fact #14: 58% of Americans living in rural areas say access to high-speed internet is a problem in their area

Rural Broadband - A Digital Divide

Fascinating Fact #14: 58% of Americans living in rural areas say access to high-speed internet is a problem in their area

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Fascinating Fact #13: 46% of U.S. adults say they feel a deep sense of wonder about the universe at least once a week

Full of Gratitude

Fascinating Fact #13: 46% of U.S. adults say they feel a deep sense of wonder about the universe at least once a week

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Fascinating Fact #12: 32% of women age 65 and up live alone, as of 2014 — compared with 38% in 1990

Boommates = Boomer Roommates

Fascinating Fact #12: 32% of women age 65 and up live alone, as of 2014 — compared with 38% in 1990

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Fascinating Fact #11: About 6 in 10 Americans feel attached to their communities

Loving Where You Live

Fascinating Fact #11: About 6 in 10 Americans feel attached to their communities

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Fascinating Fact #10: 53% of seniors surveyed in 2019 own a smartphone — which is up from 18% in 2013

More Screen Time for Seniors

Fascinating Fact #10: 53% of seniors surveyed in 2019 own a smartphone — which is up from 18% in 2013

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Fascinating Fact #9: 26% of Americans say they identified as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular in 2018 and 2019 — up from 17 percent in 2009

How Religious Are Americans?

Fascinating Fact #9: 26% of Americans say they identified as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular in 2018 and 2019 — up from 17 percent in 2009

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Fascinating Fact #8: 40% of Americans in rural areas say they know all or most of their neighbors

Neighborly Spirit

Fascinating Fact #8: 40% of Americans in rural areas say they know all or most of their neighbors

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Fascinating Fact #7: 53% of Millennials said in 2016 that they had used a public library in the last year

Going Beyond the Bookshelves

Fascinating Fact #7: 53% of Millennials said in 2016 that they had used a public library in the last year

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Fascinating Fact #6: 28 The median age at first marriage for women in 2017, compared with 21 in 1968 

Waiting to Wed

Fascinating Fact #6: 28 The median age at first marriage for women in 2017, compared with 21 in 1968 

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Fascinating Fact #5: 24% of American adults met federal guidelines for aerobic physical activity in 2017—up from 18% in 2008

Keep on Moving

Fascinating Fact #5: 24% of American adults met federal guidelines for aerobic physical activity in 2017—up from 18% in 2008

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Fascinating Fact #4: 69% of Americans mentioned "family" when asked to name what provides them with a sense of meaning in life

Finding Fulfillment

Fascinating Fact #4: 69% of Americans mentioned "family" when asked to name what provides them with a sense of meaning in life

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Fascinating Fact #3: 24% of Americans earn money through online platforms and apps

Got a Gig?

Fascinating Fact #3: 24% of Americans earn money through online platforms and apps

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Fascinating Fact #2: 21% of Americans were raised in interfaith homes

One Family, Two Faiths

Fascinating Fact #2: 21% of Americans were raised in interfaith homes

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Fascinating Fact #1: 86% of women ages 40 to 44 were mothers in 2016, compared with 80% a decade earlier

More Say Yes to Motherhood

Fascinating Fact #1: 86% of women ages 40 to 44 were mothers in 2016, compared with 80% a decade earlier

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