Americans’ self-reported mental and physical health has declined over the past decade with a sharper drop after the COVID-19 pandemic. In Gallup’s latest survey, 75% of Americans rate their mental health as “excellent” or “good,” and 76% similarly rate their physical health in this way—down from highs of 89% for mental health in 2012 and 82% for physical health in 2003. The percentage of poll respondents rating their health with the top score of “excellent” has shrunk in both categories. Only 24% believe their physical health warrants the “excellent” rating now. Mental health has declined more for women than men, while physical health declines are similar across most groups. Young men have seen the largest long-term drop in physical health.
Senior population: Despite the end of the pandemic, optimism hasn’t exactly returned in the minds of Americans. Even so, it’s important to note that Americans are aging with a growing percentage of residents over the age of 65—who might be expected to experience more declines in physical health in comparison to their younger counterparts. Between 1980 and 2022, the median age of the population increased from 30.0 years to 38.9 years. In 2022, 17% of the population was over age 65, a figure that is projected to rise to 23% by 2050.