The global landscape of international perceptions has undergone a significant transformation. A recent poll by the Pew Research Center reveals that China and its leader, Xi Jinping, are now viewed more favorably than the United States and President Donald Trump in a majority of countries surveyed. This shift marks a notable change in the international opinion landscape, driven by various geopolitical factors and recent events.
The survey, conducted between February and May 2026, included 36 countries and territories. It found that in 25 of these regions, more people have a favorable view of China than of the US. This is a stark contrast to historical trends, where the US has typically been viewed more positively. The poll also revealed that in 22 countries, Xi Jinping is seen as a more trustworthy leader than Trump.
Historical Context and Key Findings
This is the first time in approximately 20 years that Pew Research Center has recorded such a significant shift in global opinions. Laura Silver, associate director of Pew’s Global Attitudes Research, noted that while views of Beijing and Washington have been similar at times, this is the first instance where China has been viewed more positively than the US across so many countries.
The shift in perception follows the fading memory of the Covid-19 pandemic and a series of geopolitical events that have soured global views of the US. These events include Trump’s demands to control Greenland, the American military raid that captured Venezuela’s then-leader Nicolás Maduro, and the US handling of the Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza. These actions have contributed to a decline in approval ratings for the US in many countries.
Regional Shifts and Notable Changes
Some of the most dramatic shifts in opinion have occurred in US allied countries. For instance, in Canada, only 33% of respondents now have a positive view of the US, down from 57% in 2026. Over the same period, favorable opinions of China rose from 14% to 44%. Similar trends were observed in major European countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the UK.
In the US, where about 6 in 10 people held positive views of their own country in 2026, opinions of China and the US are now nearly equal. Three years ago, the gap was 32 percentage points in favor of the US. This change reflects a broader trend of declining confidence in the US government’s respect for personal freedoms, a factor that has historically been a strength for the US in global perceptions.
Comparing Leadership: Xi Jinping vs. Donald Trump
The survey also compared global confidence in the two leaders, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, to ‘do the right thing’ in world affairs. The findings indicate low Despite this, more countries report higher confidence in Xi than in Trump. This trend is particularly evident in Canada, Mexico, and major European powers like France, Germany, and the UK.
Xi’s highest confidence rating comes from Pakistan, at around 83%, while Japan records the lowest, at about 7%. Trump’s ratings show a similar pattern of extremes, with his highest rating in the Philippines at 68% and one of the lowest measurements at just 4% in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The survey highlights that many respondents do not have particularly strong or well-formed views of Xi compared to their opinions of other leaders, reflecting his lower international profile and less polarizing image.
The Pew Research Center surveyed more than 42,000 people across 35 countries plus the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The margins of error ranged from 2.3 to 5.5 percentage points depending on the country. This comprehensive study provides a detailed snapshot of the shifting global perceptions of China and the US in 2026.
