Thanks largely to his increase in support among Republicans, President Bush will end his time in the presidency with an approval rating higher than 30%, according to Gallup's final survey on Bush as president.

Bush's 34% approval rating is his highest score since January 2008 and well above the 25% approval he received just before the November elections. Compared to post-World War II presidents, Bush's rating is the third lowest.

Bush ties Jimmy Carter's final score and is just 2 points higher than Harry Truman's. The final survey for Richard Nixon, taken a week before he resigned office, found that 24% approved of the job he was doing.

Bush's 61% disapproval rating is the second worst, with only Nixon holding a higher percentage.