A recent survey conducted across 24 countries reveals a divided opinion on the United States, with a median of 49% of adults holding both favorable and unfavorable views of the nation.
This ambivalence is evident in varying perceptions of the U.S. as a leading economic power, with eight countries recognizing the U.S. as the world’s foremost economy, while 12 nations consider China to hold that title.
Interestingly, four countries report nearly equal support for both the U.S. and China as economic leaders.
Public opinion demonstrates that opinions on U.S. democracy are similarly split, with 50% believing it functions well and 46% arguing otherwise.
A consensus exists on the notion of strong political divides within the U.S., widely recognized across the surveyed nations.
The overall assessment of the U.S. varies considerably by region, with an overwhelming 83% of participants in Israel viewing the U.S. positively.
However, a stark contrast is presented from Sweden, where a substantial 79% of people hold negative views toward the U.S.
Negative perceptions extend to Canada and Mexico, where over 60% of the populace also views the U.S. unfavorably, along with majorities in Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and Turkey.
Notably, opinion ratings for the U.S. have significantly declined in 15 countries since the previous year, with a notable drop in Mexico from 61% favorability to just 29%.
Canadians too demonstrated a sharp decrease, with favorability ratings falling from 54% in 2024 to 34% presently.
Conversely, views of the U.S. have remained stable in countries like Argentina, Greece, Hungary, India, South Africa, and the UK.
Moreover, a rise in favorable attitudes towards the U.S. was observed in Israel, Nigeria, and Turkey, though Turkey still reports one of the lowest favorability rates at only 25%.
Age appears to play a significant role in shaping perspectives.
Younger adults (under 35) in many countries tend to have a more positive view of the U.S. than those aged 50 and older.
For instance, in Brazil, 73% of young adults hold a favorable view compared to only 37% of their older counterparts.
Turkey also showcases a significant gap, where 42% of younger adults express favorable opinions contrasted with just 13% of older adults.
Ideological affiliations further influence perceptions of the U.S.
Individuals on the ideological right typically hold the U.S. in higher regard than their counterparts on the left.
In Israel, for example, a striking 97% of those identifying as right-leaning have a positive opinion of the U.S., while only 55% of those on the left share a similar sentiment.
Australia reflects this ideological divide as well, with 60% of right-leaning individuals expressing favorable views compared to just 12% of those on the left.
Right-wing populist party supporters in Europe show a prominent affinity for the U.S.
For instance, 63% of Alternative for Germany (AfD) supporters see the U.S. positively, while only 25% of non-supporters reflect similar sentiments.
This trend extends beyond Europe, as supporters of right-leaning parties in other regions also tend to favor the U.S.
In Argentina, nearly 70% of supporters of La Libertad Avanza, the party of President Javier Milei, exhibit positive views of the U.S., contrasting with only 37% of non-supporters.
Support for the U.S. is also high among followers of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, and former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s People Power Party.
When asked to identify the top global economic power, respondents largely favor the U.S. in eight countries, while a majority in 12 countries indicate China as the leader.
In four countries, opinions are relatively split between naming the U.S. and China.
In South Korea, over 80% of adults consider the U.S. the leading economy, while around two-thirds of respondents in Japan agree.
More than half of participants in Canada, Israel, Nigeria, and Turkey also attribute the title of top economy to the U.S.
Conversely, in various European and Latin American nations, a larger portion of individuals name China as the foremost economic power, particularly around 60% in Greece and Italy.
Since the last survey in 2023, the share identifying the U.S. as the top economic power has diminished in eight countries, with notable declines in several European nations.
Countries like Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, and Spain have reported decreased belief in the U.S. as the leading economy, while except for Australia and Italy, a rise in acknowledgment of China has been noted.
In Latin America and African nations, views of China as the global economic leader are also on the rise, as noted in Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, and South Africa.
Canada stands out as the sole country in the survey where there has been an increase in the perception of the U.S. as a global economic leader, rising by 10 points since 2023.
The U.S. held a significant election in 2024, further affecting international views on its democracy.
Current data reveal that public opinion is divided over the effectiveness of U.S. democracy, with several countries demonstrating both staunch support and skepticism.
Countries like Hungary, Israel, Kenya, and Nigeria show the most favorable views, with around three-quarters believing U.S. democracy works well.
Majorities in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Poland, and South Korea share similar sentiments.
Nonetheless, a majority of individuals in many European nations, Australia, Mexico, and Canada contend that U.S. democracy functions poorly.
In Australia, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Sweden, around a third of respondents rate U.S. democracy as functioning very poorly.
Previous Center surveys have highlighted a general ambivalence towards American democracy, although many international observers maintain that it ranks at least as democratic and politically stable as other wealthy nations.
However, it appears less regarded as a model for others to emulate.
Gender also plays a role in perceptions of U.S. democracy, as men tend to rate its functionality more favorably than women across most nations surveyed.
In Spain, for example, 59% of men assess the U.S. democracy positively, while only 39% of women share such views.
The ideological divide remains a critical factor; right-leaning individuals are generally more inclined to commend U.S. democracy.
In Australia, 53% of those on the right acknowledge that U.S. democracy functions at least somewhat well, in stark contrast to just 13% of those on the left.
This ideological gap of 15 points or more can also be found in many other surveyed countries.
Interestingly, Turkey presents an outlier where left-leaning individuals exhibit more favorable views of U.S. democracy than their right-leaning counterparts (49% vs. 28%).
Despite the divided opinions on the efficiency of American democracy, there is broad consensus on the existence of significant partisan conflicts within the U.S.
A median of 62% agree that conflicts between supporters of different political parties are either strong or very strong.
Around 30% of respondents feel that these partisan conflicts are weak or non-existent.
In countries such as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK, at least one-third of adults recognize deeply entrenched partisan conflicts in the U.S.
Conversely, half or more in Kenya and Nigeria perceive weak partisan conflicts, while more than 40% share similar views in Greece, Mexico, and South Africa.
This question was last posed in spring 2022, following the events of January 6th when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
Recent data indicate a slight decline in some countries in the perception of strong partisan divisions in the U.S.
For instance, the percentage of Israelis acknowledging strong partisan conflicts decreased from 66% in 2022 to 52% now.
Similar or smaller decreases have been noted in Canada, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK.
Age continues to influence views on U.S. partisan divides, with younger adults more likely to identify strong conflicts when compared to their older counterparts.
In Greece, for instance, 66% of younger adults recognize considerable partisan divisions, while only 41% of older adults agree.
Overall, this survey paints a complex picture of global perspectives on the U.S., revealing a diversity of opinions shaped by factors such as nationality, age, ideology, and gender.
image source from：https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/06/11/views-of-the-united-states/
