Global favorability shifts: China surpasses US in global opinion for first time in Pew study

A new Pew Research Center study, surveying over 42,000 people in 36 countries, found that China is now viewed more favorably than the US in 25 of those countries—a first since the center began tracking in 2002.

• The study, conducted from February to May 2026, found that 25 of 36 countries had more favorable views of China than of the United States.
• Jonathan Schulman, a researcher on the study, said this marks the first time the center has recorded such a result in so many countries since it began tracking global sentiments in 2002.
• The study also recorded record-high favorable views of China in Italy, Spain, Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Turkey.
• Respondents expressed low confidence in both US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, though Xi scored higher than Trump overall.