China’s Global Favorability Edges Past U.S. in New Polling
China’s global favorability rating has been steadily rising, with new polling data showing it has edged past the United States for the first time in nearly two decades. According to a Gallup World Poll published in April 2026, a median of 36% of respondents across more than 130 countries approved of China’s leadership in 2025, compared with 31% for the United States — a five-point advantage that Gallup describes as the widest in China’s favor in nearly 20 years.
The shift, however, tells a story as much about American decline as Chinese ascent. “China’s move ahead of the U.S. more broadly reflects a decline in U.S. ratings rather than an increase in China’s ratings,” Gallup’s analysts noted. U.S. leadership approval fell from 39% in 2024 to 31% in 2025, while China’s rose from 32% to 36%. Disapproval of U.S. leadership hit a record-high 48%, while China’s disapproval remained flat at 37%.
Context: A Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
The polling data predates several major developments in early 2026, including the U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations in January and the outbreak of war with Iran in late February. These events are widely expected to further erode America’s global standing.
A People’s Daily feature published on May 25, 2026, titled “Why China’s Global Favorability Is Steadily Rising,” presents perspectives from four foreign experts who attribute the trend to China’s open cooperation, technological innovation, expanded opening-up, peaceful development, and cultural exchange. The article was compiled by People’s Daily reporters and features experts from Ghana, Singapore, Malaysia, and Italy.
Independent polling reinforces the trend. A Nira Data survey of 46,600 people across 85 countries, conducted between March and April 2026, found that China’s net perceptions stood at positive 7% globally — making it the only one of the three major powers (U.S., China, Russia) with a net positive image. The same survey found that 63 of 83 surveyed countries gave China a higher net perception score than the U.S., whose net perceptions dropped from +27% in 2023 to -16% in 2026 — a 43-point decline.
The Drivers Behind the Rise
Experts point to several factors driving China’s improving image. Felix Dapare Dakola, an academician from Ghana, highlighted China’s innovation boom in a People’s Daily interview, noting domestically-made robots performing martial arts, AI glasses with lip-movement recognition, and successful cultivation of perennial “longevity rice” as examples of technological advances capturing global attention.
Liang Jinhui, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum from Singapore, emphasized China’s role as a major trading partner to over 160 countries and regions. “In an era of uncertainty, cooperation is crucial,” she said, pointing to China’s outward investment stock, which has ranked among the top three globally for nine consecutive years.
Cultural soft power is also playing an increasingly significant role. Silvia Pozzi, an Italian sinologist and professor at the University of Milan-Bicocca, described an “Oriental trend” blending traditional heritage with modern vitality that is refreshing global perceptions of China. From Pop Mart stores in Milan to the video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” Chinese cultural products are gaining international influence. A CGTN/Renmin University poll found that 83.65% of 18-24 year-olds globally hold favorable views of China, significantly higher than older demographics.
The Nuance: A Relative Rise
Despite the positive headlines, China’s net approval of -1 remains barely negative, and the country has been in negative net approval territory since 2020. Neither China nor the U.S. commands majority approval globally. Gallup notes that nearly half of all countries surveyed (45%) delivered negative net approval ratings to both powers — the most negative the world has been toward both in two decades.
China’s favorability also varies significantly by region. It is highest in the Middle East and North Africa (98.4% economic strength recognition), Sub-Saharan Africa (97.7%), and South America (95.5%), while notably lower in Europe and North America.
What’s Next
The trajectory of China’s global favorability will depend on several factors: whether the current trend reflects a genuine increase in China’s appeal or a temporary reaction to U.S. policy shifts; how ongoing conflicts and trade tensions affect future polling; and whether China’s cultural soft power initiatives, including the “Chinamaxxing” Gen Z trend, can sustain themselves beyond short-term novelty.
As Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary-General, told Reuters via China Daily, the sharp decline in global perception of the U.S. was “saddening but not shocking,” given U.S. foreign policy over the past 18 months that has called into question trans-Atlantic ties, imposed widespread tariffs, and threatened allies. In a multipolar world, public sentiment may increasingly shape market access, regulation, and international partnerships — making the battle for global favorability more consequential than ever.