Copenhagen: Global perceptions of the United States have declined sharply over the past year, falling below those of China, according to a new annual study on the global state of democracy. The Democracy Perception Index—released by the Alliance of Democracies Foundation—reflects growing skepticism towards U.S. global leadership, even among long-time allies and admirers.
While the report did not elaborate on the specific criteria used in the assessment, the foundation, which commissioned the survey, said its core objective is to defend and promote democratic values around the world.
When questioned about the reasons behind the drop in global approval for the U.S., Alliance founder and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen pointed to several controversial actions by President Donald Trump.
“President Trump has triggered a trade war, scolded Ukraine’s president in the Oval Office, left allies feeling vulnerable and enemies emboldened,” Rasmussen stated. “It’s no surprise that opinions have slipped even among people like me who spent their lives admiring the United States and what it stood for,” he added.
The survey comes as Trump reiterates his push for a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. Last Thursday, he called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire between the two nations. The former president has also defended his tariff policies, describing them as necessary to protect the U.S. economy from what his administration claims are unfair international trade practices.
Also Read | China Deepens Latin American Ties with Beijing Summit Amid Trade Tensions with U.S.
Conducted by Nira Data between April 9 and 23, the Democracy Perception Index is based on responses from over 111,000 individuals across 100 countries. The findings paint a striking picture: perceptions of Trump were negative in 82 countries, outpacing unfavorable views of Russian President Vladimir Putin (61 countries) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (44 countries).
The survey’s net perception index, which ranges from -100% to +100%, revealed a dramatic shift. The U.S. dropped to -5%, down from +22% last year—indicating a majority of respondents now hold a negative view of the U.S. In contrast, China saw its net perception rise to +14%, up from +5% the previous year.
Also Read | U.S. Drug Price Cuts Threaten Indian Pharma Industry’s Bottom Line
Moreover, the share of countries with a positive image of the United States plummeted from 76% to 45%, while those holding a favorable view of China increased.
The report is published ahead of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, scheduled to take place on May 13–14, where the future of democratic governance and global leadership will be a central theme.
