More Than One-Third of US Presidents Since 1828 Were Elected Without Winning a Majority of the Popular Vote.
Popular Vote data only available since 1828.
Source: The American Presidency Project
| Year |
President |
% of Popular Vote |
| 2012 |
Obama |
51.1 |
| 2008 |
Obama |
52.9 |
| 2004 |
Bush II |
50.7 |
| 2000 |
Bush II |
47.9 |
| 1996 |
Clinton |
49.2 |
| 1992 |
Clinton |
43.0 |
| 1988 |
Bush |
53.4 |
| 1984 |
Reagan |
58.8 |
| 1980 |
Reagan |
50.7 |
| 1976 |
Nixon |
60.7 |
| 1968 |
Nixon |
43.4 |
| 1964 |
Johnson |
61.1 |
| 1960 |
Kennedy |
49.7 |
| 1956 |
Eisenhower |
57.4 |
| 1952 |
Eisenhower |
54.9 |
| 1948 |
Truman |
49.5 |
| 1944 |
Roosevelt II |
53.4 |
| 1940 |
Roosevelt II |
54.7 |
| 1936 |
Roosevelt II |
60.8 |
| 1932 |
Roosevelt II |
57.4 |
| 1928 |
Hoover |
58.2 |
| 1924 |
Coolidge |
54.0 |
| 1920 |
Harding |
60.3 |
| 1916 |
Wilson |
49.2 |
| 1912 |
Wilson |
41.8 |
| 1908 |
Taft |
51.6 |
| 1904 |
Roosevelt |
56.4 |
| 1900 |
McKinley |
51.7 |
| 1896 |
McKinley |
51.1 |
| 1892 |
Cleveland |
46.0 |
| 1888 |
Harrison |
47.8 |
| 1884 |
Cleveland |
48.9 |
| 1880 |
Garfield |
48.3 |
| 1876 |
Hayes |
48.0 |
| 1872 |
Grant |
55.6 |
| 1868 |
Grant |
52.7 |
| 1864 |
Lincoln |
55.1 |
| 1860 |
Lincoln |
39.9 |
| 1856 |
Buchanan |
45.3 |
| 1852 |
Pierce |
50.8 |
| 1848 |
Taylor |
47.3 |
| 1844 |
Polk |
49.5 |
| 1840 |
Harrison |
52.9 |
| 1836 |
Van Buren |
50.8 |
| 1832 |
Jackson |
54.2 |
| 1828 |
Jackson |
56.1 |