December 3: America’s Top Fears

A look at the top 10 fears of Americans in 2020 and 2021.

Source:  Chapman University
Published: October 2021

America’s Top Fears

What is causing Americans the most fear these days? 

Chapman University’s annual Survey of American Fears polled 1,035 U.S. adults on their fear levels across 95 options. For the fifth consecutive year, “corruption of government officials” overwhelmingly ranked first with 80% of respondents citing the prospect made them afraid. Unsurprisingly, the fear of “people I love dying” rose from number 5 in 2019 to number 2 in 2020/21, with 59% of respondents marking it. 

Fears of climate change got bumped down from rank 9 in 2019 to rank 13 in 2020/21. 

Top 10 Fears of 2020/2021 (% Very Afraid or Afraid)

1. Corrupt government officials: 80%

2. People I love dying (#5 in 2019): 59%

3. A loved one contracting COVID-19: 58%

4. People I love becoming seriously ill (#3 in 2019): 57%

5. Widespread civil unrest: 57%

6. A pandemic or a major epidemic: 56%

7. Economic/financial collapse: 55%

8. Cyber-terrorism (#7 in 2019): 51%

9. Pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes (#2 in 2019): 51%

10. Biological warfare: 49%

(rounded to the nearest percent)