Posted on July 27, 2009

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Confidence in Obama Lifts U.S. Image Around the World, Survey Finds

A marked improvement of the image of the United States in most parts of the world reflects global confidence in President Barack Obama, a new public opinion survey from the Pew Research Center finds.

Findings from the 25-Nation 2009 Pew Global Attitudes Survey (203 pages, PDF), which was conducted from May 18 to June 16, indicate that opinions of the U.S. are as positive in many countries as they were at the beginning of the decade. While the improvements have been most pronounced in Western Europe, perceptions of the U.S. also have become more positive in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Israel stands out in the poll as the only country where public opinion of the U.S. is lower than it had been in past surveys. At the same time, opinions of the U.S. among citizens of predominantly Muslim countries in the Middle East remain largely unfavorable, despite positive movement in the numbers in Jordan and Egypt. Animosity toward the U.S. continues to run deep in Turkey, the Palestinian territories, and Pakistan.

In contrast, favorable opinion of the U.S. more than doubled in Germany, from 31 percent in 2008 to 64 percent in 2009. Large boosts in U.S. favorability ratings since last year also were recorded in Britain, Spain, France, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, while opinions of the U.S. remain extremely positive in Kenya and Nigeria and have improved significantly in India and China.

“25-Nation 2009 Pew Global Attitudes Survey.” Pew Charitable Trusts Press Release 7/23/09.

Primary Subject: International Affairs/Development
Secondary Subject(s): Civil Society
Location(s): National

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