U.S. Image Mostly Positive

Majorities express a very or somewhat favorable view of the United States in 16 of 24 countries surveyed by the Pew Global Attitudes Project. In 10 nations at least two-thirds say they have a favorable view. This represents a dramatic shift from recent years. Indeed, since last year, positive views of the U.S. have become more common in 16 of the 20 countries where trends are available, while remaining about the same in four nations. Many of the increases are striking, especially among some of America’s traditional Western allies. Last year, only 42% expressed a positive opinion of the U.S. in France; today, three-in-four feel this way. Just 31% of Germans held a favorable view last year, compared with 64% now. Large increases also took place in Spain (+25 percentage points) and Britain (+16). More than two-thirds (68%) of Canadians have a positive opinion of the U.S., up from 55% in 2007, the most recent year in which Canada was surveyed by Pew Research. Opinions of the U.S. remained largely unchanged in the two Eastern European countries included on the survey. Read More