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While an overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (96%) recognize math skills as important in their personal lives, they have varying emotions when it comes to the subject, a survey by Gallup revealed.

“Challenged” (60%) is the most common word Americans use to describe their experience with math, followed by “interested” (48%).

Nearly half (47%) have exclusively positive feelings (interested, excited or happy) about math, while about one in three (37%) has exclusively negative feelings (such as confused or bored).

These emotions toward math are linked to Americans’ views on its importance: those with exclusively positive feelings toward the subject are much more likely to say math should be prioritized in school (73%) than those with only negative feelings (46%).

They’re also more confident in their ability to help their children with math homework — 73% of parents with positive feelings express confidence, compared with just 38% of parents with negative feelings.

It’s also worth noting that people’s views differ by age: 75% of adults aged 65 and older say math is “very important” in their personal life, compared with just 37% of 18- to 24-year-olds.

Older adults are also more likely to have positive feelings toward math — 61% of those 65 and older have exclusively positive feelings toward math compared with 32% of 18- to 24-year-olds.

Another proof that numbers follow us in life even if we don’t like them is regret. A majority of Americans (62%) believe math should be prioritized more highly than other subjects in K-12 schools, but only a small share (14%) says it should receive the very highest priority.

Four-in-ten (43%) U.S. adults wish they had learned more math skills in middle or high school, especially financial math — by far the most-desired skill, cited by 29% of adults.

Looking at skills they need for work, 61% of Americans say math is “very important,” ranking it below reading (90%), language (68%), and technology skills (68%), but about on par with writing and collaboration.

From a managerial perspective, most managers (85%) wish their direct reports had stronger math skills. Financial (41%) and foundational (41%) math top their list of most-desired capabilities among employees, followed by data science skills (37%).

But even though older generations do not doubt the importance of math, students aren’t that psyched about it.

According to a 2025 survey fielded by RAND’s new American Youth Panel (AYP), 49% of students in middle and high school report losing interest in math about half or more of the time, and 75% of youths report losing interest for at least some class time.

Loss of interest in math is consistent across genders and racial and ethnic groups.

Furthermore, 30% of middle and high school students said they have never considered themselves a “math person.”

Those who do identify as math people usually formed that view during elementary school, suggesting that early math experiences (and possibly teachers) play a key role in shaping our positive attitudes toward the subject.