10 Ways America is in Decline Right Now

10 Ways America is in Decline Right Now

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for ten ways in which the United States has transformed from Reagan’s ‘shining city on a hill’ to a cautionary tale for the world.

Global Influence Waning

For much of the 20th century, the United States stood as the undisputed global leader. It was the glue holding the post–World War II order together. America set the cultural, political, and economic tone for the world. Today, that dominance is slipping. Rising isolationism and abrupt trade wars have eroded international trust. Allies question U.S. commitments in NATO and climate accords; rivals like China sense opportunity and are filling the vacuum on the global stage. Once seen as the model for democracy, the U.S. now finds its image tarnished by polarization. The change is tangible: international tourism has fallen sharply. America doesn't seem as safe or as welcoming as it used to. Expensive visa fees, tougher screening, and anti-immigrant sentiment scare off many would-be tourists.

Demographic Aging Crisis

America is graying fast. About 18% of Americans are 65 or older today. By 2030, that number will climb to almost one in five. Four years later, seniors will outnumber children under 18 for the first time in U.S. history. A shrinking workforce means fewer taxpayers to fund Social Security and Medicare. Hospitals and nursing homes already face staffing shortages as demand grows. Families are getting squeezed on both ends. Childcare costs remain prohibitive for much of the public. Elder care is becoming just as necessary—and just as expensive. Rural towns feel the sharpest strain, with aging populations outpacing available services. This is a demographic time bomb that could cripple the U.S. economy.

Dropping Life Expectancy

For the first time in generations, Americans are living shorter lives. U.S. life expectancy fell to just over 76 years in 2022. Only three years earlier, life expectancy was nearly three years longer. The pandemic accelerated the drop, but it was already under way. Rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, and gun violence are all part of the story. The most devastating factor is the opioid crisis, which now kills more than 80,000 Americans a year. The FDA’s failure to regulate powerful painkillers unleashed an epidemic that still devastates communities. (xref) Compared to other wealthy nations, America lags in life expectancy by years. A society once defined by longevity now struggles to keep its people alive.

Crumbling Infrastructure

If infrastructure acts like the arteries keeping people, goods, and services flowing, America is on the verge of a heart attack. Roads, bridges, water systems, and power grids built decades ago are breaking down. The American Society of Civil Engineers gives U.S. infrastructure a “C” grade, with stormwater and transit earning “Ds”. Even after a $1 trillion federal investment, streets remain pitted with potholes; more than 46,000 bridges are structurally deficient. Congestion costs commuters billions of hours every year. Water systems leak enough to waste trillions of gallons annually. Experts warn the decay is more than an inconvenience - it’s a national security threat. A nation once defined by its interstate highways and engineering marvels now struggles just to keep the lights on.

Uncontrollable National Debt

The United States is drowning in red ink. The national debt hit a record $37 trillion in 2025, more than the entire annual GDP. Interest payments alone are projected to surpass defense spending within a decade. That means fewer resources for schools, infrastructure, or disaster relief. Both parties have piled on costs - through tax cuts, wars, and pandemic aid - without reining in spending or raising revenues. Public alarm is rising: 72% of Americans now see the debt as a major threat to the nation’s future, according to Pew. Economists warn that rising interest rates make this spiral harder to escape. What was once a distant worry is now a lit powder keg sitting at the heart of the U.S. economy.

Extreme Political Polarization

America is fracturing along ideological lines. Democrats and Republicans no longer just disagree: they increasingly see each other as the enemy. Pew finds that around two-thirds of Americans view the opposing party negatively, the highest in modern history. The divide isn’t only political; it’s cultural, geographic, and generational. That polarization has eroded a shared sense of American identity and patriotism. National holidays and symbols no longer unify the way they once did. At the same time, faith in the system itself has collapsed. Only 4% of Americans say the political system is working well. Majorities across both parties believe it’s utterly broken. A system—intentionally designed to be slow in 1787—cannot keep up with modern needs.

Democratic Backsliding

American democracy is under visible strain; it may even be on the verge of snapping. Scholars warn of democratic backsliding: a gradual erosion of checks and norms that safeguard free government. States have moved to limit ballot access and reshape election administration. Partisan gerrymandering entrenches power and distorts representation, dulling the impact of majority rule. At the national level, President Trump has set America on a collision course with fascism. He spread false claims about the 2020 election and pressured officials to overturn results. Worse, he openly pledged to use his second term to punish opponents and weaken institutions. He is on pace to keep his promises. A country that once exported democracy abroad now faces urgent questions about whether it can preserve its own.

Children Left Behind in Education

The classroom is in crisis. NAEP shows steep drops in reading and math scores, reaching multi-decade lows. Public schools remain underfunded and teachers overburdened, leaving millions of kids behind. American science is slipping as China surges in publications, patents, and clinical trials. The culture needed to support educational excellence is fraying, too: only 16% of Americans read for pleasure in 2023, down from 28% in 2004. Amid this decay, a new threat looms. Researchers warn that uncritical reliance on generative AI to crank out essays or answers is a danger to our students. It can erode creativity and critical thinking skills. A country is incapable of international leadership if its children can’t keep up.

Crippling Mental Health Epidemic

America is in the middle of a mental health emergency. Nearly one-third of adults now report symptoms of anxiety or depression. At the same time, access to mental health care is - for many - virtually non-existent. Nearly 130 million Americans live in areas with too few providers. Most states meet less than 40% of their mental healthcare needs. America's health insurance system makes treatment financially impossible for millions. Children and teens are struggling too, with psychologists calling youth mental health a sustained crisis. The public is fully aware of the problem: 90% of Americans say the nation faces a mental health crisis. Therapy use is up, but desired outcomes aren’t; by nearly every measure, well-being continues to decline.

Inequality is Out of Control

America has become a nation of extremes. It’s the wealthiest nation on earth, but the distribution of that wealth is more concentrated at the top than ever before. The rich are just getting richer, pulling away from everyone else. The top 10% of households now command nearly 70% of the nation’s wealth. Meanwhile, the bottom half holds almost nothing. Student debt has become a modern-day shackle: $1.6 trillion is owed, locking millions of young people out of careers, homes, and families. Housing, once the cornerstone of the American Dream, has turned into a trap. Rents swallow paychecks, and homeownership drifts out of reach. The dream of upward mobility is fading, replaced by a reality where opportunity is scarce and prosperity is hoarded by the few.

Are there other factors that point to America going the way of Ancient Rome? Can the trends be reversed? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!