Pew Finds 51% Median Favorability for China Across 37 Countries as Xi Outpolls Trump in 22
Updated
Updated · Pew Research Center · Jul 15
Pew Finds 51% Median Favorability for China Across 37 Countries as Xi Outpolls Trump in 22
3 articles · Updated · Pew Research Center · Jul 15
Summary
A Pew survey of 45,658 people in 37 countries found a 51% median favorable view of China versus 39% unfavorable, showing a broad rebound from pandemic-era lows.
The improvement is strongest in middle-income regions—Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South and Southeast Asia—while wealthier countries in Europe and East Asia remain more skeptical.
China is now seen more positively than the U.S. in 25 countries, and Xi Jinping draws more confidence than Donald Trump in 22, helped by both China’s image gains and worsening views of the U.S.
Country gaps remain stark: 90% of Pakistanis view China favorably, versus 11% of Japanese adults, while Italy rose to 51% favorable and Spain to 54%, both notable multi-year highs.
Persistent concerns still center on personal freedoms, territorial conflict and foreign interference, with majorities in North America, much of Europe, Japan, South Korea and Australia saying China does not respect personal freedoms.
As America's global favorability plummets, are its traditional allies now hedging their bets by embracing China?
Has the US strategy of tariffs and tech competition backfired, pushing nations and allies closer to Beijing?
Is China's economic and tech diplomacy in the Global South building a new, non-Western world order?
Global Leadership in Crisis: 2025 Gallup Data Shows Unprecedented Disapproval of US and China
Overview
The 2025 Global Leadership Report reveals a historic shift in how the world views major powers. Nearly half of all countries surveyed gave negative approval ratings to both the United States and China, marking the highest level of global negativity in two decades. This reflects a significant re-evaluation of global leadership and growing polarization, as opinions about these powers become more defined. The return of Trump to the White House influenced some exceptions, such as a sharp rise in U.S. approval in Israel. Overall, the world is moving toward a more fragmented and multipolar order, with traditional alliances under strain.