Global Perceptions Shift: China’s Favorability Surpasses US
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Global Perceptions Shift: China's Favorability Surpasses US
- In a significant reversal, a July 2026 Pew Research Center survey found that China is now viewed more favorably than the United States in 25 of 36 surveyed countries.
- This shift marks the first time in nearly two decades that China has surpassed the U.S. in global favorability in Pew's tracking, with confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping also exceeding that in U.S. President Donald Trump by ten points across twenty annually tracked countries.
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Recent global surveys indicate a notable shift in international public opinion, with China’s favorability ratings improving while those of the United States have declined. A Pew Research Center study released in July 2026, based on interviews with over 42,000 people across 36 countries, revealed that China is now viewed more positively than the U.S. in the majority of nations surveyed. This represents a significant change from previous years, where the U.S. consistently held a more favorable global image.
The shift is attributed to both an improvement in perceptions of China and a deterioration in views of the United States. For instance, in 2025, Gallup’s World Poll indicated that China’s global leadership approval rating of 36% surpassed the U.S.’s 31%, marking the widest gap in China’s favor in almost two decades. This trend is particularly evident in middle-income countries, where more people express concerns about U.S. foreign policy interference than China’s, and often view China as a more reliable partner.
Despite this shift in favorability, deep distrust of Beijing remains a factor for many countries, particularly among traditional U.S. allies. While some nations, like those in Southeast Asia, show oscillating sentiment between the two superpowers, there’s a broader desire among many to pursue greater autonomy rather than fully aligning with either Washington or Beijing. The U.S. has actively sought to counter China’s influence, for example, by urging partner countries to choose sides in the AI technology competition. However, China’s economic resilience, commitment to opening up, and rising cultural influence are noted as factors contributing to its improving global image.