Multiple Regions / Worldwide

Americans and Western Europeans have broadly similar views on certain social and political issues. For example, majorities of Americans and Western Europeans see immigrants as beneficial to their economies and support certain rights for gays and lesbians.

Americans pray more often, are more likely to attend weekly religious services and ascribe higher importance to faith in their lives than adults in other wealthy, Western democracies, such as Canada, Australia and most European states, according to a recent Pew Research Center study.

A record 276,500 foreign graduates received work permits under the Optional Practical Training program in the U.S. in 2017, up from 257,100 in 2016.

Most Americans expressed an unfavorable opinion of Putin earlier this year, but Russians have a relatively positive view of Trump. Globally, there is low confidence in Putin and Trump on international affairs.

The U.S. has taken in 3 million of the more than 4 million refugees resettled worldwide since 1980. But in 2017, the U.S. resettled 33,000 refugees, the country’s lowest total since the years following 9/11.

American women are waiting longer to have children than in the past, but they are still starting their families sooner than women in many other developed nations.

Restrictions on religion continued to climb in 2016 around the world, the second year in a row of increases.

Restrictions on religion increased in 2016 for the second straight year. Nationalist parties and organizations played an increasing role in harassment of religious minorities, especially in Europe.