---
title: "4. How people around the world view family ties in their countries"
description: "Across the 27 countries surveyed, almost six-in-ten (58%) believe family ties have gotten weaker over the past 20 years. This is true in virtually every country surveyed, including 64% in the U.S. and a median of 59% across 10 European countries. The view that the strength of family is declining is also found in the […]"
date: "2019-04-22"
authors:
  - name: "Jacob Poushter"
    job_title: "Associate Director, Global Attitudes Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/jacob-poushter/"
  - name: "Janell Fetterolf"
    job_title: "Former Senior Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/janell-fetterolf/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/04/22/how-people-around-the-world-view-family-ties-in-their-countries/"
---

# 4. How people around the world view family ties in their countries

[![Chart showing that globally, most say family ties have weakened.](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/04/PG_2019-04-22_Global-Views-Cultural-Change_4-01.png?w=310)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/04/22/how-people-around-the-world-view-family-ties-in-their-countries/pg_2019-04-22_global-views-cultural-change_4-01/)

Across the 27 countries surveyed, almost six-in-ten (58%) believe family ties have gotten weaker over the past 20 years. This is true in virtually every country surveyed, including 64% in the U.S. and a median of 59% across 10 European countries.

The view that the strength of family is declining is also found in the Middle Eastern, sub-Saharan African and Latin American publics surveyed. For example, in Tunisia, 74% say family ties have gotten weaker. Almost six-in-ten Kenyan and Brazilian adults (59%) share the same view. Among the countries surveyed, those in South Korea are the most likely to say that family ties have weakened over the past two decades (83% say this).

The main exceptions to this global sentiment are in Indonesia and the Philippines. A majority of Indonesian adults (61%) say family ties have gotten stronger while 52% in the Philippines believe the same. About four-in-ten Nigerians also see family ties strengthening, though 43% say they are weakening.

When asked about whether the change in family ties was a good or bad thing for their countries, half or more in every country surveyed (except Indonesia and the Philippines) said this was a bad thing. And majorities in every country surveyed are in favor of strengthening family ties.

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**Next:** [Acknowledgments](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/04/22/global-views-cultural-change-acknowledgments.md)