---
title: "6. Is U.S. democracy a good example to follow?"
description: "The publics surveyed are largely skeptical that democracy in the U.S., at least in its current form, is a good example for other countries to follow. A median of four-in-ten across the 34 nations polled believe democracy in the U.S. used to be a good example for other countries to follow but has not been […]"
date: "2024-06-11"
authors:
  - name: "Richard Wike"
    job_title: "Director, Global Attitudes Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/richard-wike/"
  - name: "Janell Fetterolf"
    job_title: "Former Senior Researcher"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/janell-fetterolf/"
  - name: "Maria Smerkovich"
    job_title: "Research Associate"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/maria-smerkovich/"
  - name: "Sarah Austin"
    job_title: "Former Research Assistant"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/sarah-austin/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/06/11/is-u-s-democracy-a-good-example-to-follow/"
categories:
  - "China Global Image"
  - "Donald Trump"
  - "Environment & Climate"
  - "International Political Values"
  - "Joe Biden"
  - "Presidential Approval"
  - "U.S. Global Image"
  - "Vladimir Putin"
  - "War & International Conflict"
  - "World Leaders"
datasets:
  - name: "Spring 2024 Survey Data"
    url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/dataset/spring-2024-survey-data/"
---

# 6. Is U.S. democracy a good example to follow?

The publics surveyed are largely skeptical that democracy in the U.S., at least in its current form, is a good example for other countries to follow. A median of four-in-ten across the 34 nations polled believe democracy in the U.S. *used* to be a good example for other countries to follow but has not been in recent years.

[![A bar chart showing What people around the world think of U.S. democracy](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/06/gap_2024.06.11_us-image-2024_6_01.png?w=420)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=171052)

Roughly one-in-five say American democracy has *never* been a good example. A similar share say it is *currently* a good model for other countries.

Around the world, adults in advanced economies are more skeptical of U.S. democracy when compared with those in middle-income countries. In 16 of 17 high-income countries surveyed, the share of people who think American democracy *used* to be a good example is 40% or higher. By contrast, the share holding this opinion is *under* 40% in 13 of 17 middle-income countries surveyed.

The current state of American democracy receives some of its highest ratings in the sub-Saharan African nations included in the study. Half or more in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria think U.S. democracy sets a good example for other countries. A similar share of Israelis hold this opinion.

On the other hand, in 18 of 34 countries surveyed, about a quarter or more of adults think that U.S. democracy has *never* been a good example to follow. Turkey stands out as the most critical of American democracy, with about half of adults (52%) holding this view.

[![A table showing that Fewer now say U.S. democracy is a good example for other countries to follow](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/06/gap_2024.06.11_us-image-2024_6_02.png?w=310)](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=171053)

Substantial shares of the public in several European democracies are also critical: At least three-in-ten say the U.S. has never been a good example in France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

Since spring 2021, the share who see American democracy as a good example has fallen in eight of the 13 countries where trends are available, mostly in Europe.

For instance, 32% of Italians said in 2021 that the U.S. was a good example of democracy, while 22% hold this view today. Smaller but significant decreases can be seen in Australia, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

---

**Next:** [Appendix A: Favorability of the United States since 2000](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/06/11/appendix-a-favorability-of-the-united-states-since-2000-us-image-2024.md)