Americans who have traveled internationally stand out in their views and knowledge of foreign affairs
Roughly three-quarters of Americans (76%) have visited at least one other country, including 26% who have been to five or more.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Roughly three-quarters of Americans (76%) have visited at least one other country, including 26% who have been to five or more.
Most think social media has made it easier to manipulate and divide people, but they also say it informs and raises awareness.
Attitudes toward NATO have grown more positive: 67% express a favorable opinion of the organization, up from 61% in 2021.
Most say U.S. is reliable partner, and ratings for Biden are mostly positive – although down significantly from last year.
The U.S. is seen positively in advanced economies for its technology, entertainment, military and universities, but negatively for its health care system, discrimination and the state of its democracy.
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.
Thirty years ago, a wave of optimism swept across Europe as walls and regimes fell, and long-oppressed publics embraced open societies, open markets and a more united Europe. Three decades later, a new Pew Research Center survey finds that few people in the former Eastern Bloc regret the monumental changes of 1989-1991.
Many Europeans say the European Union promotes peace, and most think it promotes democratic values and prosperity. But they also tend to see it as inefficient, intrusive and out of touch with citizens’ needs.
Overall, 38% of Americans have a favorable opinion of China, down slightly from 44% in 2017. Concerns about China include economic threats, cyberattacks, environmental damage and human rights.
Americans and Germans also have different views on which element of their countries’ relationship is most important – economy, defense or shared democratic values.
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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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