Affective Polarization in the US

Each week, we ask a thousand Americans how they feel about their own political party, as well as how they feel about the opposing political party. Affective polarization is the difference between the two [Iyengar et al., 2012].

Affective polarization by state

Average level of polarization by party

(more is worse)

Democrats:

55.41

 

Republicans:

54.71

Is it getting better or worse?

Affective polarization averaged across each week.

Which party is more polarized?

Democrats


Republicans


Vertical dashed line: Average