Pew survey finds China rated more favorably than the U.S. in most countries polled
The Facts
- Pew Research Center found that people in 25 of 36 surveyed countries and territories viewed China more favorably than the United States.
- The survey was conducted between February and May 2026 and included more than 42,000 respondents across 36 countries and territories.
- Multiple reports say this is the first time in roughly two decades of Pew tracking that China has been rated more favorably than the U.S. in a majority of the places surveyed.
- In only six surveyed countries did respondents view the United States more positively than China: Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan and Israel.
- The survey found that Xi Jinping was viewed more favorably than Donald Trump in 22 of the 36 countries and territories surveyed.
- Respondents generally rated the United States higher than China on respect for personal freedoms.
- Respondents were more likely to say the United States interferes in other countries' affairs than to say the same about China; one BBC report cited median shares of 75% for the U.S. and 45% for China.
- The findings indicate a shift in international public opinion as the U.S. and China compete for global influence.
Context
What exactly did Pew measure?
Pew surveyed adults in 36 countries and territories from February to May and asked about their views of China and the United States, as well as their views of Xi Jinping and Donald Trump BBC,mint,Times of India.
Does the survey mean China is viewed more positively everywhere?
No. While China was rated more favorably in 25 of the 36 places surveyed, the U.S. was still viewed more positively in six countries: Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan and Israel Guardian,mint,Cumhuriyet.
Were views of the two countries the same across all issues?
No. Respondents still tended to see the U.S. as more respectful of personal freedoms, but they were also more likely to say the U.S. interferes in other countries' affairs than China does BBC,BBC,Los Angeles Times.
Where Left and Right agree, and where they split
- Where Left and Right agree
- America’s standing has slipped across much of the surveyed world even as respondents still see the United States as stronger than China on personal freedoms.
- Where Left and Right split
- Whether the story is about U.S. credibility abroad being damaged by perceived interference, or about personal freedom remaining America’s more important and durable advantage.
How left and right read it
What stands out here is not just a bad headline for the United States, but a real warning about how power is being perceived: in most places surveyed, China now rates more favorably than the U.S. for the first time in roughly two decades of this tracking, and people are more likely to say the U.S. interferes in other countries’ affairs. That matters because even with the U.S. still seen as stronger on personal freedoms, a country that looks domineering abroad is burning through the trust any durable partnership depends on.
“The United States' aggressive foreign policy under President Trump, including imposing sweeping tariffs and slashing foreign aid, has soured many countries on American partnership.” — The New York Times
What matters here is that, even after a clear shift in international opinion, respondents still rate the United States higher on respect for personal freedoms. That is a reminder that America’s real comparative advantage is not image management but the durable appeal of a freer order—and that preserving that strength matters more than chasing approval in countries now tilting toward China.
The receipts — all 78 sources
Wire services (5)
Independent coverage (50)
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