A seismic shift in global sentiment has upended two decades of polling data, with China now viewed more favorably than the United States across the majority of the world's major economies, according to a sweeping Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday.
The findings mark a historic reversal. In 25 of the 36 countries and territories polled between February and May, respondents expressed more favorable views of China than the US. Only six nations still lean toward a more positive view of America: Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel.
The gap extends to leadership perception. In 22 of the surveyed regions, people view Chinese leader Xi Jinping more favorably than US President Donald Trump, including across major European powers like France, Germany, and the UK, as well as Canada and Mexico.
Laura Silver, associate director of Pew's Global Attitudes Research, attributed the dramatic pivot to fading memories of the Covid-19 pandemic and deteriorating American credibility. "There was just an actual relationship between the outbreak of the war and the sense that the US is just not contributing to peace and stability and that people have less confidence in Donald Trump," Silver said.
The shift has been most pronounced among traditionally close US allies. Canadian opinion of the US plummeted from 57 percent favorable in 2023 to just 33 percent today, while views of China skyrocketed from 14 percent to 44 percent in the same period, likely driven by Trump administration tariffs and rhetoric about annexing Canada as a potential 51st state.
Across Europe, the trend is unmistakable. France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands have all reversed their relative rankings, now viewing China more positively than the United States. Even within America itself, the margin has collapsed dramatically. US voters held a 32-point favorability advantage over China three years ago; that spread has evaporated to near parity.
Silver identified several factors driving the reversal beyond tariff disputes. Trump's demands regarding Greenland, the US military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and American policy during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza have all contributed to eroding international confidence. By contrast, China is increasingly seen as a more reliable partner for global stability and peace.
The Chinese embassy in Washington seized on the findings, stating the poll "demonstrates that China's governance achievements and development progress are widely recognised." The White House declined to comment.
The survey included more than 42,000 respondents across 35 countries plus the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with margins of error ranging from 2.3 to 5.5 percentage points. One caveat: while opinions of China have surged relative to the US, many respondents harbor low confidence in both leaders and both governments.
The US retains one advantage in the international perception sweepstakes. Americans and citizens abroad still credit the US government with greater respect for personal freedoms than China, though even that edge has narrowed significantly in recent polling cycles.
Author James Rodriguez: "This isn't just a polling blip, it's a geopolitical earthquake that Washington needs to reckon with immediately."
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