An overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the United States is a very powerful nation, but more than one-third are also of the view that the country is not well respected, according to an online poll released on Wednesday.

The Harris Poll of 3,423 US adults revealed that 57 per cent of Americans believe the US is very or extremely powerful when compared to other nations, with an additional 28 per cent saying the country is generally powerful.

However, this power does not seem to translate into respect, with 38 per cent of Americans saying that the US is not at all well respected throughout the world, and an additional 35 per cent believing that the country is only somewhat well respected.

Only one in five say the US is generally well respected and 7 per cent share the view that it is extremely or very well respected throughout the world.

When it comes to how powerful the US is, there is a generational difference. Slightly under half of those who are 62 and older say the US is very or extremely powerful, a view shared by an overwhelming 62 per cent of Echo Boomers (those aged 18-30).

There is also a gender difference on this issue. Men, with 63 per cent, are more likely than women (50 per cent) to say the US is extremely or very powerful.

When it comes to respect, there is also a difference in opinion depending on generation. While almost half (47 per cent) of Baby Boomers say the US is not at all well respected throughout the world, just one-third (32 per cent) of Generation X and one-quarter (24 per cent) of Echo Boomers feel the same way.

So which would be better for the US to do -- reduce its involvement in world events or increase it? Over six in ten (63 per cent) say it would be better to reduce the involvement of the US in world events while just 16 per cent say it would be better to increase it.

Here, education plays a factor as the more education one has, the more likely they are to say increase involvement.

Almost one-quarter (23 per cent) of those with a post-graduate degree say it would be better for the US to increase its involvement compared to 13 per cent of those who have a high school degree or less.

The online poll was conducted between February 2 and 8.