China is viewed more favorably than the United States in an increasing number of countries, and for the first time, this trend is predominant among the analyzed states.
At the same time, the image of the USA has deteriorated, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping generally inspires more confidence than American President Donald Trump.
These are the conclusions of an extensive study conducted by the Pew Research Center, based on a survey conducted in 36 countries and published on Thursday. The research shows that the perception of China has significantly improved in recent years, while the image of the United States has continued to erode, as reported by BBC.
Over 42,000 people were interviewed between February and May 2026 and were asked how favorable their opinion is about the two superpowers.
For the first time, China is ahead of the USA
According to the study, in 25 out of the 36 analyzed countries, there are more people who have a favorable opinion about China than about the United States. It is the first time that the Pew Research Center, which has been tracking global perceptions of major powers since 2002, has recorded such a result.
Among the countries where China's image has improved the most are Spain, Italy, Greece, Canada, and Indonesia.
On the other hand, only six states continue to clearly favor the United States: Poland, the Philippines, South Korea, India, Japan, and Israel, most of which are traditional allies of Washington.
Researchers also noted a broader trend: in recent years, the favorable image of the USA has consistently declined, while the positive perception of China has increased.
In some countries, such as Italy, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey, China has achieved the highest image scores recorded by Pew since conducting these measurements.
- Americans have lost Europe's trust. Hope and admiration have been replaced by fear and even contempt
Poorer countries view China more favorably
The study shows that, in general, middle-income countries have a more favorable perception of China, while wealthy states tend to be more critical.
An exception is Singapore, one of the most prosperous economies included in the research, where China's image remains very positive.
The most favorable opinions about China were recorded in Pakistan, where approximately 90% of respondents have a positive view of Beijing. At the opposite end is Japan, where only 11% have a favorable opinion.
Xi surpasses Trump in trust
Survey participants were also asked how much trust they have in Xi Jinping and Donald Trump regarding handling international affairs.
The level of trust is low for both leaders, but in most of the analyzed countries, Xi Jinping scores better than Donald Trump.
The highest trust in the Chinese leader was recorded in Pakistan (83%), while the lowest was in Japan (7%).
Regarding Trump, the best results were in the Philippines (68%), and the worst were in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where only 4% of respondents said they trust him.
One of the study's authors, Jonathan Schulman, explained to BBC that people tend to have less firm opinions about Xi Jinping, while reactions to Donald Trump are much more polarized.
USA seen as more intrusive in other states' politics
The study also shows that the United States continues to be seen as a country that respects individual freedoms more than China, but the difference between the two countries has narrowed.
On the other hand, when it comes to foreign policy, the perception is reversed. In several middle-income countries, 75% of respondents said that the United States is very or somewhat involved in the affairs of other states. Only 45% said the same about China.
Why the perception is changing
Chong Ja Ian, an associate researcher at Carnegie China, states that the results are not surprising. "The unpredictability of US policy, including the use of force and the economic effects it produces, makes many people alert," he told BBC.
He says that Beijing has invested in improving its image in recent years, especially in developing countries, and currently, China is perceived by many as a more predictable international actor than the United States.
At the same time, the expert emphasizes that this does not mean Xi Jinping is viewed favorably. On the contrary, he says, many still consider him an authoritarian leader, even if they separate his image from that of China as a state.