---
title: "China Top Economic Power"
description: "Nearly half of U.S. adults now say that China is the world's top economic power."
date: "2011-01-18"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2011/01/18/china-top-economic-power/"
---

# China Top Economic Power

In a new Pew Research Center survey, 47% of Americans say that China is now the world’s leading economic power; only 31% say that the United States is. As recently as 2008, the balance of opinion was reversed: 41% named the U.S., while 30% named China. A large majority correctly identifies China as the country that holds the most U.S. debt, and Americans now view Asia as more important than Europe to U.S. interests by a 47%-to-37% margin. Yet while Americans may see China as a problem, relatively few describe it as an adversary, and a 58%-majority say it is very important to build a stronger relationship between the U.S. and China. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1855/china-poll-americans-want-closer-ties-but-tougher-trade-policy)