Americans name China as the country posing the greatest threat to the U.S.
In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In an open-ended question allowing Americans to name which country they see as the greatest threat to the U.S., 50% name China.
58% of Americans see NATO favorably, down 4 points since 2023. Democrats and Republicans are increasingly divided on the alliance and on Ukraine aid.
We asked respondents in both countries to, in their own words, define what democracy means to them. Most commonly, people mention three broad concepts: freedom and human rights, elections and procedures, and having a voice in government.
Despite the many depressing stories dominating the international news cycle, there is also a note of positivity among survey respondents in views of the UN, the benefits of international cooperation for solving problems and the importance of common values for bringing nations together.
Majorities in most of the 27 places around the world surveyed in 2023 and 2024 say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
As daunting challenges from Russia, China and a flagging global economy ripple across the world, Americans and Germans continue to say that relations between their countries are good. Most Americans and Germans continue to see each other as partners on protecting European security, and publics in each country are willing to support using military action to protect themselves and their allies.
Most say U.S. is reliable partner, and ratings for Biden are mostly positive – although down significantly from last year.
As democratic nations have wrestled with economic, social and geopolitical upheaval in recent years, the future of liberal democracy has come into question. Our international surveys reveal key insights into how citizens think about democratic governance.
In the U.S., concerns about political corruption are especially widespread. Two-in-three Americans agree that the phrase “most politicians are corrupt” describes their country well.
Dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions.
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