Laura Silver

The U.S. receives more positive marks than China in 21 countries surveyed, while China fares better than the U.S. in seven countries.

The U.S. stands out to many around the world as the country their nation can rely on most. But substantial shares in some countries see it as their greatest threat.

Negative views of China predominate in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. China also receives unfavorable marks from many neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region.

More countries still name the U.S. as the foremost economic power than say the same of China. And, even in nations that welcome China’s economic growth, few feel similarly about its growing military might.

As ownership of mobile phones, especially smartphones, spreads rapidly across the globe, there are still notable numbers of people in emerging economies who don't have access to mobile phones. And even phone owners struggle with connectivity, costs and security issues.

Americans and Western Europeans largely agree about what is important for democracy, but they put greater emphasis on these principles than Central and Eastern Europeans.

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.

Smartphone users in emerging economies – especially those who use social media – tend to be more exposed to people with different backgrounds and more connected with friends they don’t see in person.

Unfavorable opinion of China in the U.S. is at its highest level in 14 years of polling. Americans also increasingly see China as a threat, and more than half see friction in the current bilateral economic relationship.

United Kingdom legislators in the House of Lords and House of Commons tweeted more critical content of Trump’s recent visit to the nation.