People Around the World Want Political Change, but Many Doubt It Can Happen
Majorities in 20 of 25 countries surveyed say their political system needs major changes or complete reform, but many lack confidence this can happen effectively.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
International Affairs
Topic Spotlight
- Russia-Ukraine War: A majority of Americans are not confident that Donald Trump can make wise decisions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, according to an August survey. (Read the short read)
- Views of the U.S.: Amid low confidence in Trump, views of the U.S. have declined among many nations included in our 24-country survey. (Read the report)
- Views of China: More people globally now see China as the world’s leading economic power, yet views of the country and its president remain broadly negative. (Read the report)
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Opinions of the EU remain mostly favorable across 25 countries
A median of 62% of adults across 25 surveyed countries say they have a favorable opinion of the EU. Another 32% have an unfavorable view of the organization.
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8 in 10 Israelis view United Nations unfavorably
This year, only 16% of Israelis have a favorable view of the UN – the lowest level in surveys going back to 2007.
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International Opinion on Global Threats
Adults across 25 countries see the spread of false information online, the condition of the global economy and terrorism as major threats today.
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Americans’ views of global threats differ by party, age
Seven-in-ten Americans view the spread of false information online as a major threat facing the nation in 2025.
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How Americans view the Trump administration’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine war
59% of Americans say they are not confident that Trump can make wise decisions about the Russia-Ukraine war.
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How people in 24 countries view India
A median of 47% across the 24 countries have a favorable opinion of India, while a median of 38% have an unfavorable view.
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How the United Nations is funded, and who pays the most
The amount each UN member must pay varies. In 2025, the U.S. was responsible for 22% of the UN’s regular budget and 26.2% of its peacekeeping budget.
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80 years later, Americans have mixed views on whether use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima, Nagasaki was justified
Today, 35% of Americans say using the atomic bomb on Japan in 1945 was justified, while 31% say it was not justified. A third say they are not sure.
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International adoptions to the U.S. have slowed to a trickle, matching trends in other countries
After peaking in 2004, the annual number of international adoptions to the United States has fallen by 94% as of 2023.
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Canadians’ opinions of the U.S. and its president are at or near historic lows
About a third of Canadians (34%) have a favorable opinion of the United States today. This is down 20 percentage points since last year.
Signature Reports
Attitudes on an Interconnected World
How close do people feel to others around the world? How much do they want their countries involved in international affairs? How do people’s experiences with travel and feelings of international connectedness relate to their views about the world? A recent 24-nation survey explores these questions.
Representative Democracy Remains a Popular Ideal, but People Around the World Are Critical of How It’s Working
A 24-country survey finds a median of 59% are dissatisfied with how their democracy is functioning, and 74% think elected officials don’t care what people like them think.
What Can Improve Democracy?
Amid growing discontent with the state of democracy globally, we asked over 30,000 people what changes would make their democracy work better.
NATO Seen Favorably in Member States; Confidence in Zelenskyy Down in Europe, U.S.
NATO is seen more positively than not across 13 member states. And global confidence in Ukraine’s leader has become more mixed since last year.
