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Support for the Death Penalty Declining, Generational and Partisan Gaps Widening

Support for the death penalty in the U.S. has declined slightly over the past two decades. However, according to recently released data from Gallup, the gap between how younger and older citizens view the practice has significantly widened.

The smallest generational gap in beliefs about the death penalty occurred between 2000 and 2006. During this time, 66% of the Silent/Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers, 67% of Generation X, and 63% of Millennials supported the death penalty. In data collected between 2020 and 2024, those rates are at 62% (Silent/Greatest), 61% (Boomers), 58% (Gen X), and 47% (Millennials).

The latest data came from the first-generation Z survey. Only 42% of that age cohort support the death penalty.

It will likely come as no surprise that, within each generational grouping, stark differences persist among those of different political persuasions. The gap, however, has widened due to changing Democratic voter views about the death penalty.

Between 2000 and 2006, among those in Generation X and older, 57% of Democrats and 81% of Republicans supported the death penalty. In the latest survey, only 38% of Democratic Gen X and older participants are in favor of the death penalty, with 82% of Republicans in that group supporting it.

The changes were similar for younger Democratic and Republican respondents.

The birth years Gallup uses to define generations include 1997-2012, Generation Z; 1981-1996, Millennials; 1965-1980, Generation X; 1946-1965, Boomers; and 1946 and before, Silent/Greatest.

More information on the Gallup Social Series poll can be found here.

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