Global Public Opinion Insights
As geopolitical tensions intensify and global power dynamics continue to shift, understanding how countries are perceived on the world stage is critical for organizations and governments worldwide. This report from GlobeScan draws on public opinion across 33 countries to explore which nations are seen as having a positive or negative influence globally, and how those views differ across regions.
The findings reveal a complex picture. Countries such as Canada, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, and the European Union are widely viewed as having a positive global influence, while perceptions of other major powers are far more polarized. In many cases, the Global South and Global North hold sharply contrasting views, underscoring how history, geopolitics, and lived experience shape perceptions of influence.
The report also shows that despite today’s turbulence, global sentiment toward many countries has improved over the long term. Most of the countries tracked have seen an increase in positive influence ratings since 2017, which serves as a reminder that global perceptions are not static and can evolve.
Key Findings:
- Clear leaders in positive influence: Canada, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, and the EU lead in positive global influence, with 75 percent or more of respondents rating them mainly positively.
- Deep polarization among major powers: The influence of countries such as the United States, China, India, and South Africa is viewed very differently depending on region, reflecting divergent geopolitical perspectives.
- Countries facing the most negative perceptions: Iran, Israel, North Korea, and Russia receive the highest negative influence ratings globally.
- Longer-term improvement in sentiment: Despite current instability, positive perceptions of influence have increased for most tracked countries since 2017.
