People Around the World Want Political Change, but Many Doubt It Can Happen
Majorities in 20 of 25 countries surveyed say their political system needs major changes or complete reform, but many lack confidence this can happen effectively.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
International Affairs
Topic Spotlight
- Russia-Ukraine War: A majority of Americans are not confident that Donald Trump can make wise decisions regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, according to an August survey. (Read the short read)
- Views of the U.S.: Amid low confidence in Trump, views of the U.S. have declined among many nations included in our 24-country survey. (Read the report)
- Views of China: More people globally now see China as the world’s leading economic power, yet views of the country and its president remain broadly negative. (Read the report)
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Publics Worldwide Unfavorable Toward Putin, Russia
Around the world, few people trust Putin to do the right thing when it comes to international affairs. While Russia is not seen as particularly threatening in most countries, it is viewed unfavorably in many.
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Few see EU as world’s top economic power despite its relative might
The European Union ranks as the world’s second-largest economy by gross domestic product, but few people globally see it as an economic leader ahead of China or the United States.
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Globally, more people see U.S. power and influence as a major threat
Across 30 nations, a median of 38% now say U.S. power and influence poses a major threat to their country, up 13 percentage points from 2013.
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Globally, People Point to ISIS and Climate Change as Leading Security Threats
People around the world identify ISIS and climate change as leading international threats. Many also name cyberattacks from other countries and the condition of the global economy as major challenges.
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Border wall is Trump’s least popular policy internationally
People around the world strongly disapprove of Trump’s signature policies, but his planned U.S.-Mexico border wall stands out for its unpopularity.
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From Brexit to Zika: What Do Americans Know?
Before you read the report, test your own News IQ by taking the interactive knowledge quiz. The short quiz tests your knowledge of questions recently asked in a national poll. After completing the quiz, you can compare your score with the general public and with people like yourself.
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9 charts on how the world sees President Trump
Globally, Trump is much less popular than his predecessor, and only a few countries have positive views of Trump. See nine charts that highlight international perceptions of Trump.
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Globally, More Name U.S. Than China as World’s Leading Economic Power
Across 38 nations, a median of 42% say the U.S. is the world’s leading economy, while 32% name China. But the economic balance of power has shifted in the eyes of some key U.S. allies and trading partners.
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In Asia-Pacific countries, many are concerned about North Korea’s nuclear program
Americans and many in the Asia-Pacific region hold negative views of North Korea and its nuclear weapons program but are divided on what to do about it.
Signature Reports
Attitudes on an Interconnected World
How close do people feel to others around the world? How much do they want their countries involved in international affairs? How do people’s experiences with travel and feelings of international connectedness relate to their views about the world? A recent 24-nation survey explores these questions.
Representative Democracy Remains a Popular Ideal, but People Around the World Are Critical of How It’s Working
A 24-country survey finds a median of 59% are dissatisfied with how their democracy is functioning, and 74% think elected officials don’t care what people like them think.
What Can Improve Democracy?
Amid growing discontent with the state of democracy globally, we asked over 30,000 people what changes would make their democracy work better.
NATO Seen Favorably in Member States; Confidence in Zelenskyy Down in Europe, U.S.
NATO is seen more positively than not across 13 member states. And global confidence in Ukraine’s leader has become more mixed since last year.
