It’s the time of year when New Year’s resolutions are made – and sometimes broken

Written by Parriva — January 30, 2024
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new year's resolutions

Three-in-ten Americans report making at least one resolution this year, with half of this group making more than one, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.

Nearly a month into the new year, the survey also finds that most people who made resolutions have stuck with them, although 13% say they have not kept any of them.

Here are some key facts about the Americans who make New Year’s resolutions and why they make them, based on the survey of adults conducted Jan. 16-21.

How we did this

Young adults are most likely to make New Year’s resolutions.

Nearly half (49%) of adults ages 18 to 29 say they made at least one resolution this year, by far the largest share of any age group.

About a third (31%) of those ages 30 to 49 say they made a resolution, while only about a fifth (21%) of adults 50 and older have done so.

There are only modest differences in who makes resolutions by race or ethnicity, gender or partisanship.

Health and wealth are popular topics for New Year’s resolutions

Across all age groups, sizable majorities of those who made resolutions this year say their goals focus on health, exercise or diet.

Overall, 79% say their resolutions concern health. Smaller but still sizable shares made resolutions about money or finances (61%), personal relationships (57%), hobbies or personal interests (55%), or work and career (49%).

Younger Americans are more likely than older Americans to make resolutions about each of these topics, apart from health. This is especially the case for work and career: 65% of those under age 30 who made resolutions say they made one related to their work or career. This is by far the largest share of any age group.

Resolutions: We have to detail exactly how we are going to achieve things

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