A Pew Research Center survey reveals a historic shift in global perceptions, with China now viewed more favorably than the United States in 25 out of 36 countries and territories surveyed. This marks the first time in roughly 20 years that China has surpassed the US in global favorability, according to Laura Silver, associate director of Pew's Global Attitudes Research.
Key Findings on Favorability
The poll, conducted from February to May 2025, found that only six countries—Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel—still view the US more positively than China. In Canada and Mexico, as well as major European powers like France, Germany, and the UK, China leads in favorable opinions. Views of Chinese leader Xi Jinping also outpace those of US President Donald Trump in 22 of the 36 countries surveyed, though confidence in both leaders remains low overall.
Drivers of the Shift
Silver attributes the change to multiple factors, including the fading memory of the Covid-19 pandemic and a deterioration in global views of the US. “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,” she said. Specific US actions—such as Trump's demands to control Greenland, the military raid that captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, and the US handling of the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza—have contributed to low approval ratings.
China appears to have benefited from comparison with the US. “By comparison, we know that China is seen to be a more reliable partner in many places. It's more likely to be seen to contribute to global peace and stability,” Silver noted.
Regional Shifts and US Allies
The most dramatic changes occurred among US allies. In Canada, positive views of the US dropped from 57% in 2023 to 33% in the new survey, while favorable opinions of China rose from 14% to 44%. Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods and his suggestion that Canada could become the “51st state” likely fueled this shift. Major European countries—including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy—also switched their preferences toward China.
Within the US, domestic views have shifted: about 60% of Americans held positive views of the US in 2023, but now they view China and the US similarly. Three years ago, the gap was 32 percentage points in Washington's favor.
Personal Freedoms and Methodology
The US still leads China in perceived respect for personal freedoms, but the gap is narrowing, according to the Pew report. The study surveyed over 42,000 people across 35 countries plus the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with margins of error ranging from 2.3 to 5.5 percentage points depending on the country.
The Chinese embassy in Washington stated that the poll “demonstrates that China's governance achievements and development progress are widely recognized.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
