China surpasses U. S. in global favorability, poll finds - Archyworldys
In a historic shift of international public opinion, China is now viewed more positively than the United States in most of the 36 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center. The findings, released. . .
In a historic shift of international public opinion, China is now viewed more positively than the United States in most of the 36 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center. The findings, released Wednesday, mark the first time in the roughly 20 years that Pew has tracked global attitudes that China has outpaced the U. S. in favorability. The survey, which polled 42,151 adults between February 8 and May 13, 2026, reveals that the U. S. image has deteriorated significantly, with some metrics hitting or nearing historic lows. While majorities in most surveyed nations now favor China over the U. S. , the United States remains more favorably viewed in only six countries: India, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Israel, and Poland. A Widespread Shift Among U. S. AlliesThe decline in U. S. standing is particularly notable among its long-term allies. In countries such as Britain, Canada, France, and Germany, public opinion has swung toward China. According to Pew data, these nations viewed the U. S. as favorably as or more positively than China as recently as last year. The trend is exemplified by Canada, where the favorability gap has reversed. By 2025, the two countries were viewed with equal favorability. The 2026 survey shows that 44% of Canadians now view China more favorably than the U. S. , which stands at 33%. Photo: GallupLeadership Confidence and Foreign PolicyConfidence in the leaders of both superpowers remains generally low across the globe. However, when compared directly, Chinese President Xi Jinping is viewed more favorably than U. S. President Donald Trump in 22 of the countries and territories surveyed. The survey results suggest that the global shift is driven by a combination of declining perceptions of U. S. policy and improving views of China. Conversely, some respondents increasingly view China as a reliable partner. In 17 middle-income nations, more people see China as a contributor to global peace and stability than the U. S. Photo: NewscordPersistent Concerns and the “Personal Freedoms” GapDespite the rise in China’s favorability, the survey highlights that international anxieties regarding Beijing remain. Many respondents continue to express concerns about China’s territorial disputes with neighbors, its influence in foreign affairs, and its government’s respect for personal freedoms. The U. S. maintains a lead in the area of personal freedoms, as more survey respondents globally believe the U. S. government respects the rights of its citizens compared to the Chinese government. Photo: GlobaltimesContextualizing the Global TrendThe Pew findings are consistent with independent polling data. A 2025 report by Gallup similarly found that China had surpassed the U. S. in global approval ratings, recording the widest gap in China’s favor in two decades. In that study, median approval for U. S. leadership fell to 31%, while disapproval reached a record high of 48%. As the U. S. and China continue to compete for global influence, the 2026 Pew survey provides a detailed look at the current geopolitical landscape:*Survey Scope:42,151 adults across 36 countries. *Period:February 8 to May 13, 2026. *Key Finding:China is viewed more positively than the U. S. in 25 of 36 countries. *Positive U. S. Standing:Remains in only 6 nations, largely in the Asia-Pacific region and two specific allies (Israel and Poland). The polling period overlapped with the early stages of the U. S. -led war in Iran, a factor researchers suggest may have further influenced shifting attitudes as the conflict progressed. Find more reporting in ourWorldsection. Related readingPuri Rath Yatra 2026 LIVE Updates: Pahandi of Lord Jagannath, His Siblings beginsEn direct, guerre en Ukraine – Indignation en Ukraine après le départ du ministre de la Défense Mykhaïlo FedorovChina surpasses US in global favorability for first time in Pew survey(shorty-news. com)Why the US Still Has No Extradition Treaty With China(daybreakwire. com)RelatedDiscover more from ArchyworldysSubscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Natalie Ortiz — News & World EditorFluent in English and Spanish, Natalie Ortiz guides Archyworldys’ global desk through elections, disasters, and UN climate summits. Her bilingual live blogs and data visualizations rank across Google Images, Video, and Top Stories. A Knight Science Journalism fellow and Tableau power user, Natalie trains reporters to transform raw data into highly shareable interactives that extend on-page time and social reach.