Is the U.S. the greatest country in the world? Readers are deeply divided.

Readers Say

Boston.com’s survey results show readers are split over patriotism, politics, and America’s place in the world.

By Annie Jonas

July 1, 2026 | 1:52 PM

8 minutes to read

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As the country hurtles toward its 250th anniversary on Saturday, Boston.com asked readers a simple but loaded question: Is the United States the greatest country in the world? More than 150 answered, and the results reveal a readership — and by extension, perhaps, a country — deeply divided.

Of the 159 respondents, 41% said yes, the U.S. remains the greatest country on Earth. Just under a quarter (23%) landed in the middle, arguing the country is not the greatest, but is still pretty good. And 36% said the U.S. is not the greatest country at all.

“America has been and still is the land of opportunity. No other country can compare,” wrote Robert P. Durham of Connecticut, echoing the sentiment of many “yes” voters who pointed to opportunity, freedom, and the enduring pull the U.S. has on people around the world.

Others weren’t ready to go that far, but weren’t ready to give up on the country either. 

“A bad day in the US can still be a good day in a lot of places. But compared to our similar counterpart countries and who we used to be we have fallen far off the pedestal,” wrote Beth of Ayer.

But for many respondents, the answer was a hard “no.” 

“America is number one at infant mortality, child obesity, arms sales, pollution, and medical bankruptcy. It remains the greatest country in its widespread military bases. Its remaining exports are social discord, avarice, and gratuitous violence,” wrote Cam B. of Worcester.

The mixed verdict comes at a strange moment for national pride. This summer, the World Cup has brought millions of visitors streaming into U.S. cities — including Boston, where kilted Scotland supporters have been a fixture downtown — for a monthlong celebration that’s injected a burst of community and goodwill into the country.

But scratch the surface of readers’ responses, and that goodwill runs up against deeper, more entrenched anxieties about democracy, inequality, and, for many respondents, about the direction the country has taken under the Trump administration.

Reader after reader cited the current political climate as the reason their faith in American exceptionalism has cracked, even as many of the same respondents said they still believe in the country’s underlying promise of freedom and equality formed 250 years ago.

Below, readers share their thoughts on the United States’ place on the world stage.

Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.

Do you think the US is the greatest country in the world?

Yes

“In spite of Trump, MAGA and the last few years, I still believe that the US can restore its position as leader of  the free world and model for third world countries struggling to be democracies.” — Andrew F.

“People take for granted all of the freedoms we have. They trivialize it. In many other countries they would be jailed or worse for expressing their views.” — Tom W., North Shore

“My parents are both immigrants. They had to leave their country due to extreme poverty and hardship. They immigrated to the US and built a foundation from absolutely nothing for my brother and I to have a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes and shoes, and a good education. My brother and I are now a medical doctor and an engineer, respectively. I don’t think there’s any other country in the world where this could have been pulled off successfully. It saddens me that so many Americans have such a negative view of the country, almost to the point of hatred. It’s far from perfect, but it’s still the greatest. I think it’s okay to be proud to be an American while still recognizing the imperfections.” — Alain M., Waltham

“The US has been a global force for liberty for 250 years. What other power has stood stronger against the scourge of socialism and saved Europe twice?” — Dave, North Shore

“We are still the land of opportunity and that’s why millions of people want to come and live here. We have the most powerful military in the world.” — Tim S., Acton

“The US may not be perfect, but it beats any other country in the world in terms of freedom, education, women’s rights, quality of living, and a myriad of other factors. The grass is always greener, but at the end of the day, the US beats any other country by a country mile.” — Megan

“We have advanced technology and the best fighting forces. We have many educational institutions and medical advances. Look at all the professional sports teams we have, and forms of entertainment. People all over the world want to come here. If you work hard and make wise choices you can be successful. We have many freedoms that people don’t appreciate. They are conditioned to complain about everything that is not perfect. People take for granted that we have clean water, sanitation, many modes of transportation, the internet that allows us to have products and food delivered without leaving home, all kinds of services for the elderly, and free programs for the less fortunate. We have a legal system. We can practice our religion. We are able to make choices of what we want to do and where we can travel. Granted, other countries may have similar situations but I have no wish to live in another country. My relatives fought for this country in wars to preserve what we have. We have something worth protecting. That’s why I feel we are the greatest. People and leaders from other countries recognize our strengths as well.” — K.D.J., North of Boston

“Right now it is tarnished, facing its greatest threat from a con man and charlatan. But it is my belief that the constitution will win, that democracy will survive and the current administration will be nothing but a disease that was cured by American strength through the vote!” — Celeste H., Boston

No, but it’s pretty good

“Jingoism is a pretty destructive mindset. And I absolutely hate a certain administration running the show right now. But I do think that there are plenty of reasons to enjoy the United States for its nationhood and its cultures.” — J.H.B., Medford

“We have such dramatic differences in living standards, healthcare access, food security, and education standards in the US that it’s tough to call us the greatest in the world. We are so great in many things — setting the standard for the world in technology, research, culture and innovation — yet so pig-headed, selfish, and short-sighted in other ways. We could choose to be the greatest, but even asking the question results in name-calling, vitriol, and suspicion! With our political environment so awash in money and splintered interests, it’s almost impossible for genuine discourse, respect, and a commitment to a shared vision of what could make us great to happen. The ingredients for our success and demise are in our collective hands. We need leaders who can rise above and appeal to enough of us to come together. Or we need to go our separate ways and Balkanize, admitting we gave it a  good run, but our model of government just won’t work anymore. I choose the positive outlook that we can cure what ails us, but it’ll be painful.” — Tim O., Saco, Maine

“I’ve lost my pride. I’m embarrassed to be an American on the world stage. We are openly more corrupt than ever before, we refuse to believe in facts or science, and cozy up to dictators rather than fight for democracy. We are willing to ban books but not guns.” — Todd B., Brookline

“The wheels are falling off. Corruption is rewarded instead of punished. Trump has succeeded in rolling back all the wrong things.  The system is unfair, especially to those who should benefit most.” — Michael G., West Roxbury

“It currently is definitely NOT the greatest country in the world and, in fact, arguably one of the worst. What does potentially and to varying degrees make it one of the best is that the majority recognizes the current fraud and many are willing to stand up and fight it.” — Greg L., Hyde Park

“I have faith in our ability to restore our place as the greatest country in the world but I don’t think that’s possible in the age of Trump.  I’m old enough to remember the Reagan era and despite living under multiple Democratic and Republican presidents I have never seen anything as acrimonious and dysfunctional as the Trump era.” — Jack, Lynn

Not at all

“The US is in serious decline. Democracy is under assault. We are a violent, frightened people.  Any country that values profit above human well-being will eventually collapse, as we saw in the Civil War. There is a great spirit of generosity in the American people, but too many politicians and wealthy people are corrupt and in control.” — Robert B., Cheshire

“Because we are losing top talent, limiting research funding, removing environmental protections that prevent cancer and other harms to citizens, and losing our standing as an ally.” — Candace, Brookline

“Where do I start? If one standard for the best in the world is defined as quality of life, equality for all, sense of happiness and freedom, then we are lagging far far behind. Most of the Scandinavian countries beat us in almost every category. I think the fact that we have the administration we do says what this country values: money. Greed. Selfishness. That’s nothing to be proud of.” — Leslie M., Quincy

“The government has become completely bastardized from what our founding fathers intended. This is no longer a representative democracy. We’ve made politician an occupation, and we are ruled by men who’ve never worked a day in their lives. Men who don’t know what a gallon of milk costs. What minimum wage is. How it feels to get fired. We’ve allowed the most greedy and ignorant among us to ascend to positions they shouldn’t even be adjacent to, and since they have no dignity nor respect for the offices, they use them to grab all the wealth and power they can.” — Anonymous reader, Shrewsbury

“Gen Xer here. I watched an upswing during the course of my lifetime for women and minorities, and now I am watching the conservative courts and corrupt government take us back in time and dismantle all progress and civility brick by brick. I am truly ashamed.” — Mich S., Hyannis

“We are exceptional, all right. But in the wrong ways. We have once again become international bullies. We are seeing many of our Bill of Rights freedoms dissolve and evaporate. We have lost our ability to have civil discourse. We have lost respect, as a country, for those who are different. We are now ruled by fear, anger, and myopia.” — Peter F., Marblehead

Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.