U.S. — Pew Research Center released survey findings showing that 93% of U.S. adults who were 10 years or older at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks say they recall exactly where they were or what they were doing when they heard the news. The data comes from a poll conducted in late August 2026, marking 25 years since the terrorist attacks.

The survey included 5,166 U.S. adults who responded between August 24 and 30, 2026. All participants were members of the Center’s American Trends Panel. Among those born before 2001, 83% said they remember exactly where they were or what they were doing when they learned of the attacks.

A distinct generational divide appears in how younger Americans acquired knowledge of the events. Ten percent of U.S. adults today were born after 2001 and know about the Sept. 11 attacks only through what they have learned from others. For those aged 18 to 24, the primary source of information was formal education.

Sixty percent of U.S. adults aged 18 to 24 said they first learned about the Sept. 11 attacks in class or through schoolwork. Sixteen percent in this age group said they first learned from family or friends. Eight percent said they learned by reading or watching something on their own, while 1% cited some other way. Fourteen percent of adults aged 18 to 24 were not sure how they first learned about the attacks.

Why It Matters

The persistence of vivid memories among those who experienced the day firsthand indicates the lasting impact of the event on the national consciousness. According to reports, in a 2016 Pew Research Center survey, 76% of Americans named 9/11 as one of the 10 most consequential events of their lifetimes. The 2026 data confirms that these recollections remain sharp for the vast majority of adults who were old enough to comprehend the news at the time.

As the population of Americans with no direct memory of the attacks grows, the mechanism for transmitting historical knowledge shifts from personal experience to institutional and familial education. The survey results show that schools have become the dominant source of initial exposure for young adults, while a small portion relies on interpersonal networks or independent research to understand the events.

Timeline

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred in the United States. Twenty-five years later, memories remain vivid for many Americans, with 83% of adults born before 2001 and 93% of those 10 or older at the time recalling exactly where they were when they heard the news. On September 17, 2001, George W. Bush was President of the United States.

On that same day, Bush spoke at the Islamic Center of Washington. From August 24 to 30, 2026, Pew Research Center surveyed 5,166 U.S. adults.

What's New

Additional context notes that George W. Bush spoke at the Islamic Center of Washington six days after the Sept. 11 attacks. At that time, George W. Bush was President of the United States six days after the Sept. 11 attacks. He remarked, "The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam." He further stated, "In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil." Historical data indicates that in a 2016 Pew Research Center survey, 76% of Americans named 9/11 as one of the 10 most consequential events of their lifetimes. The National September 11 Memorial Museum estimates that about 100 million Americans have been born since the attacks. Additionally, the USA PATRIOT Act was established about 45 days after the attacks.