WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Pew Research Center report on discrimination in 2025 reveals both broad consensus and deep divides over who is most affected.

According to the nationally representative survey of more than 3,500 U.S. adults, an overwhelming majority believe that discrimination continues to be a significant issue in the country. A striking 82% of respondents said immigrants living in the U.S. illegally face at least some discrimination, and 57% said they experience “a lot” of it, more than any other group included in the study, the report says.

Transgender people also rank high, with 77% of Americans who said they face at least some discrimination, including nearly half (48%) who said they encounter a lot of it, the report says.

The survey, conducted from April 7 to April 13, asked Americans to assess levels of discrimination against 20 different racial, religious, gender and social groups.

The full rankings include Black Americans, Hispanic people, women, Jews, Muslims and more, but the data reveals important nuances in public perception, the report says.

The report does not just capture who Americans think are most affected. It reflects how social awareness of inequality continues to shift, and which communities remain at the center of public concern.

Although many respondents recognized discrimination against religious minorities and LGBTQ+ people, smaller demographic groups like Muslims, Jews and those identifying as gay or lesbian were not large enough to give a sufficient sample in this survey, the report notes, making it difficult to report views of discrimination against those including Jews, Muslims and people who are gay, lesbian or transgender.

Pew researchers noted that while there is a broad agreement that discrimination exists, views vary by political affiliation, age and other factors. Still, in 2025, Americans still believe that several groups in society face unequal treatment, and that some face far more than others, the report says.

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