U.S. adults identifying as independents have reached a record-high at 45%, including the majority of Generation Z, the generation with the highest percentage, according to a Gallup poll released Monday.

In 2025, the percentage of independents increased by 2 points, as Americans identifying as either a Democrat or Republican hit 27% each, per Gallup's poll.

Older generations are more likely to identify with a political party than younger generations, like Generation X, millennials, and Gen Z. A total of 56% of Gen Z identify as independents. More of Gen Z identify as independents as young adults than millennials did in 2012 at 47%, and 40% of Gen X adults in 1992.

When asked which political party they lean toward, 20% said Democratic, compared to 15% Republican and 10% non-leaners. Republican leaners declined by 3 points from 2024, while Democratic leaners increased by 3 points. Adults identifying with either political party dropped by 1 percentage point from 2024.

An average of 47% identified as Democrats or said they were independents who lean toward the Democratic Party, while 42% identified as Republicans or leaned Republican, which breaks a three-year streak in which Republicans had a lead in party affiliation.

Last year, at 35%, more adults described their views as “very conservative” or “conservative,” compared to 28% as “very liberal” or “liberal,” with 33% identifying as “moderate.” While conservatives kept their lead, the 7-point advantage is the smallest that Gallup has measured in annual averages dating back to 1992.

The poll was conducted by ReconMR in 2025, with a combined random sample of 13,454 adults, and a margin of sampling error of ±1 percentage point.