44 ways to judge the Obama era – CNN International
Those eight years saw the nation grapple with the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. The country's response to that crisis helped reshape the economy and the makeup of the political system a few times over. And for every day of those eight years, the nation was at war -- on multiple fronts, against multiple groups for multiple purposes.
All of these momentous changes during Obama's presidency had very real effects on people across the country and the globe. And for each of these real-world impacts, there is a number.
The recession cost many people their livelihood. The following years saw many of those same people gain it back. While part of the drop in unemployment came from people leaving the workforce, enough people have jobs now that, statistically speaking, employment has recovered from the darkest days of the economic crisis.
Due in part to a revolution in domestic fossil fuels and massive oil production overseas, oil and gas have been pretty cheap for some of Obama's presidency.
Here's what the situation looks like.
Following years of upward climb and a rally after President-elect Donald Trump's electoral victory, stocks are near record highs.
Here's stock market performance as of January 3, 2017:
Obama's election coincided with Democratic victories across the nation and the strong 2008 showing built on the party's successes in 2006. But as the years went on, the situation virtually reversed itself. Obama will exit office with the Republican Party resurgent on the state and federal levels.
Deaths from opioid-related overdose deaths have been on the rise. More people are dying from overdoses on heroin and prescription pain medicine like oxycodone and fentanyl.
States with legal marijuana or cannabis products have blossomed under Obama. When he took office, recreational marijuana wasn't legal in any state.
The Affordable Care Act set aside funding for states to expand Medicaid -- a government health care program for the poorest Americans. But the process became something of a tussle with state governments and many of their Republican leaders. By the end of Obama's presidency, only the slim majority of states had opted to expand Medicaid.
As the economy recovered and the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, reformed the health care market, more people had health insurance coverage.
Here's the total percentage of people without insurance, according to the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey:
By the end of Obama's presidency, government debt had nearly doubled to about $20 trillion.
Trump said during his campaign that he'd create a special force to deport undocumented immigrants. Although Obama criticized Trump's immigration proposals, he detained and deported millions of men, women and children. Obama's administration deported the people -- 434,015 -- in 2013.
The US has grown more unequal over the past few decades, including the past eight years.
One commonly cited measure is the Gini index. The number ranges from zero to 1, and the higher the Gini index is, the more unequal the distribution of income is.
According to the Census, it was .469 in 2009 and .4817 in 2017.
The bottom half of earners have seen their pre-tax incomes fall while the highest earners have seen a fairly steady rise.
Debate abounds over how and why incomes vary by gender and whether the wage gap can fairly be said to exist. However, men and women, as well as people of different races, all have much different pay.
Following the dips in growth that marked the recession, the economy slowly and steadily rebounded. Many, including Trump, have said observed rates of growth are far too low.
Hate crime incidents in the US neared 6,000 in both 2013 and 2015.
The Obama administration created 11.3 million jobs in eight years, and the economy added jobs for 75 straight months, a record that totals 6 years.
More jobs were created under Obama than under George W. Bush, who only created 2.1 million jobs. However, Obama fell short of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan, who saw 22.9 million and 15.9 million jobs created, respectively, under their presidencies.
The countries he hosted include:
When he was elected in 2008, 28,223,000 people were receiving food stamps.
In 2016, 44,219,000 people received food stamps -- an increase of nearly 16 million people.
Although Obama has vastly reduced the number of troops in Afghanistan during his time in office, he has failed to withdraw all American troops from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
As of December 2016, there were still 9,800 troops left.
As of January 2017, 45 prisoners remain and 171 have been released under Obama.
Nine of the 171 have been "confirmed" to have returned to terrorist activities, according to a government report.
Obama had pledged to close the controversial center within one year in an executive order he signed shortly after his inauguration in January 2009.
Obama hit the links 333 times since assuming the presidency, according to CBS News' Mark Knoller, the unofficial White House statistician who pledged to track each and every round played by the commander in chief.
While his critics have said this is too many rounds to play, his figure doesn't come close to the amount played by Woodrow Wilson, who is said to have played 1,200 rounds while President.
In 2015, the median was $56,516, which was a 5.2% increase from 2014. This was also the first increase in median income since 2007, before the economic crash.
In December 2016, the index was a high 113.7 -- a stark difference to when fell as low as 25 during the recession, when Obama took office.
The poverty rate in the United States in 2015 was 13.5%. This is down 1.2 percentage points from 14.8% in 2014. In 2015, there were 43.1 million people in poverty, 3.5 million fewer than in 2014.
The birth rate fell to 59.8 births per 1,000 women in 2016 under Obama.
The price of milk decreased under Obama from $3.58/gallon when he took office in January 2009 to $3.28/gallon as of November 2016.
CNN's Kevin Liptak, a White House reporter, has kept a running tally of Obama's acts of clemency -- the president's decisions to pardon or commute criminal sentences.
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44 ways to judge the Obama era - CNN International
- Trump eyes Iran deal with many of the trade-offs he blasted Obama for accepting - The Washington Post - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and President Barack Obama Visit Early Childhood Education Center in the South Bronx - NYC.gov - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Photos show Obama and Mamdani reading to preschoolers in the Bronx - ap.org - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Obama and Mamdani read and sing with New York preschoolers in first meeting - The Guardian - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Former President Barack Obama Obama meets Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York City before reading to preschoolers - ABC7 Los Angeles - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- George W. Bush Shares the Story Behind His Viral Altoid Pass to Michelle Obama at John McCain's Funeral - people.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- EXCLUSIVE: Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama and Biden Reveal Why They Have Hope For Americas Future - TODAY.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- George W. Bush Has a Theory for Why People Love His Friendship with Michelle Obama - TODAY.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Mamdani, Obama read to children in the Bronx - The Detroit News - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Stunning new poll places Trump with Biden and Obama in brutal assessment - Yahoo - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Imagine if Obama did that: Trump corruption, hypocrisy is glaring by normal standards - MS NOW - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Obama and Mamdani know how to get votes, but howd they do with toddlers? - New York Amsterdam News - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Told Then-Colleague Barack They Couldnt Date at First Because It Was 'Too Clich' - people.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- RAW: JOHN KERRY: TRUMP TRYING TO GIVE IRAN OBAMA'S DEAL - Local 3 News - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Says She Feels 'Fully in Myself in Her 60s: Doing Things That Bring Me Joy - people.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Steph Curry Didnt Have It in Him to Trash Talk Barack Obama on the Golf Course, Ayesha Jokes (Exclusive) - people.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Obama and Mamdani take part in a reading event in New York City - Honolulu Star-Advertiser - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Dont mess with this Angel: Michelle Obama stands up for Angel Reese - TheGrio - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- See Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani turn reading to Bronx kids into a blueprint for New Yorks future - revolt.tv - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- NBA star 'didn't have it in him' to trash-talk Barack Obama during round of golf - Daily Express US - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Barack & Michelle Obama Are Done Watching Their Work Disappear on Netflix - Pajiba - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Obama and Mamdani meet in NYC for first time, read to Bronx preschoolers - The Morning Sun - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Video. Obama and Mamdani sing with kids during first meeting in New York - Euronews.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- BET Current: Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, and Barack Obama Make Headlines with New Additions and Powerful Appearances - bet.com - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Issues Stern Warning to Angel Reeses Critics - The Spun - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Barack Obama reading books to preschoolers with Zohran Mamdani is a very big deal - Flux | Matthew Sheffield - April 23rd, 2026 [April 23rd, 2026]
- Trump Gets Crushed by Obama in Humiliating Poll Which Crowns Dolly Parton as Most Popular - The Daily Beast - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- MAGA pundit says Obama aide and the Pope are conspiring to hurt Trump - The Independent - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Where Was the Outrage Over Obama Depictions as Jesus? - National Today - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Dolly Parton tops celebrity favorability poll; beats Obama, Trump, Taylor Swift - and its not close - LiveNOW from FOX - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- CNN guest lays out bonkers Obama-Pope Leo conspiracy theory plot to bring down Trump - SILive.com - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Barack Obama Twists the Knife After JD Vances Humiliation - The Daily Beast - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Obama-Appointed Judge Rebuked Over Trump Deportation Flights - Newsweek - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- MAGA pundit insists Obama aide and the Pope are conspiring to hurt Trump - Yahoo News UK - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- COMMENTARY: The next Obama cant stand right-wing media scrutiny - Jefferson City News Tribune - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Queen Elizabeth II "Expressed Her Real Views" on Brexit to Barack Obama, Former President Revealed - Marie Claire - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Queen Elizabeth II "Expressed Her Real Views" on Brexit to Barack Obama, Former President Revealed - Yahoo - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Jamie Dimon Says Missed Obama-Era Plan Would Have Been A 'Home Run' For US Debt Crisis: 'Wish It Had...' - Yahoo Finance - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Barack Obama to speak at Canada 2020 gala in Toronto on May 8 - The Hill Times - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Obama Accused Of Working With Pope Leo To Ensure Republicans Lose Their Seats - The Kenya Times - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Dolly Parton beats Obama and Zelensky in US popularity poll - Far Out Magazine - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- Obama's fave: Ari on Jay-Zs path from projects to Wall St, MLK and Blueprint Breakdown (1996-2026) - MS NOW - April 14th, 2026 [April 14th, 2026]
- In 2011, Barack Obama said it was time to 'pivot' to Asia. But 15 years later, the U.S. is still at war in the Middle East - Fortune - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Pope Meets With Top Obama Adviser Following Pentagon Threat - The New Republic - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Trump's Treasury is taking over defaulted student-loan accounts. Here's what happened when Obama did it. - Business Insider - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Will Trump get a worse Iran deal than Obama? Heres what to know - CNN - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Why was Michelle Obama in Yellow Springs with Dave Chappelle? | Opinion - The Columbus Dispatch - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Jenna Ortega Thought She Had a Crush on Barack Obama at 6. Turns Out, She Just 'Wanted His Job' - People.com - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Illinois residents to receive free entry on one day of the week at Obama Presidential Center Museum - NBC 5 Chicago - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Tickets for Obama Presidential Center Museum go on sale in early May - NBC 5 Chicago - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- obama presidential center set to open with site-specific artworks and sculptures on campus - Designboom - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Obama musical tickets; when to go, what to know about 44 in DC - USA Today - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Iran pressures Trump to give them a better deal than Obama - Newsweek - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Says America Is in a Janky Version of Itself - bet.com - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- How Barack Obama reacted to Michigan winning 2026 NCAA Championship - Yahoo Sports - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Trump vs Obama on Iran: From costly war to ceasefire, who got the better deal? - WION - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Opinion | Trump should have listened to Obama about Iran - The Boston Globe - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Hypocrite Obama trolled for admission rule at Soviet Style presidential library - SILive.com - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Illinois Residents Can Visit The Obama Presidential Center For Free Every WeekHow To Claim Your Tickets Starting In May - Secret Chicago - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Did Obama send $1.7B in cash to Iran? What posts get right and omit - Snopes.com - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Jenna Ortega thought she had a childhood crush on Barack Obama - but she just wanted his job - Yahoo News UK - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- He took a risk in front of Michelle Obama - then she said five words - MSN - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- BREAKING NEWS! Obama & Kamala Harris Named In UK High Court Filings Directly Linked to Branca & Cascio Network With Corey Feldman! Davids... - April 12th, 2026 [April 12th, 2026]
- Barack Obama was the first American president to celebrate a seder in the White House, a tradition that started in Harrisburg - Inquirer.com - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Barack Obama's Easter message has Trump critics saying the same thing - Indy100 - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Obama Center museum tickets to go on sale later this month - thetriibe.com - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Love quote of the day by Michelle Obama: Our marriage has never been perfectly 50-50...' - The Times of India - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Barack Obama was the first American president to celebrate a seder in the White House, a tradition that started in Harrisburg - MSN - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Michelle O'Bombshell, a stand-up comedian and impersonator of former US First Lady Michelle Obama, has passed away. Link to full story in the comments... - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- A favourite of Barack Obama, Priyanka Chopra and top global celebs: Inside the worlds most in-demand res - The Times of India - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Former Obama advisor: It remains to be seen whether the US military is willing to say "no" to Trump - Gazeta Express - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Whats Going On...With Obama Saying Aliens Are Real? - Modern Ghana - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Disaster: Trump unleashes on Obama over scrapped Iran deal as the war against Tehran escalates - NT News - April 7th, 2026 [April 7th, 2026]
- Heres How You Can Win a Free Ticket to the Opening of the Obama Presidential Center This June - Secret Chicago - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Former Giants kicker calls out Trump haters: The Obama administration did it too! - NJ.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Wears A Tiny Cardigan On The 'IMO' Podcast & Talks Her 'New Phase Of Life' With Barack - Yahoo - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- What Barack Obama Said About Giving Iran $1.7 Billion - newsweek.com - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Expo Chicago art fair returns with a refined floor plan and Obama Center ties - WBEZ Chicago - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Michelle Obama Whines to Steph Curry About How Hard Her Marriage to Barack Obama Is Again - Megyn Kelly The Devil May Care - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]
- Former Obama advisor: Iran war could go in these three directions, but Trump won't leave NATO - Vox News Albania - April 5th, 2026 [April 5th, 2026]