Survey Finds China Viewed More Positively Than U.S. in Most Polled Countries

A Pew Research Center survey published Wednesday shows China receiving higher favorability ratings than the United States in most of the 36 countries polled. The poll of more than 42,000 people was conducted from February 8 to May 13. In Greece, 55 percent of respondents viewed China positively compared with 37 percent for the United States.

Italy recorded a reversal over three years, with 51 percent now favoring China and 31 percent favoring the United States. Similar shifts appeared in Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and France.

Regional Patterns In Asia, the gaps were larger.

Israel recorded 81 percent positive views of China versus 19 percent for the United States. Japan showed 50 percent for China and 11 percent for the United States. The Philippines posted 56 percent for China and 40 percent for the United States. South Korea recorded 45 percent for China and 28 percent for the United States.

India showed 45 percent for China and 23 percent for the United States. Thirty-nine percent of respondents said the United States respects personal freedoms, compared with 26 percent who said the same of China. Views of the United States grew more negative over the past year in five of six Latin American countries surveyed, while views of China remained largely steady.

China is South America’s top trading partner.

Global attitudes toward the U.S. president began declining in former President Biden’s final term and worsened during the first two years of Trump’s second term, the survey found. President Trump stated at the Shield of Americas summit in March 2026 that the United States has effectively taken over Venezuela and is threatening Cuba while conducting a military campaign in the Caribbean Sea.

“China is now viewed more positively than the United States in most of the 36 countries polled.”