China’s global approval in 2025 surpassed that of the United States—the perception gap between the two countries reached its widest level in nearly two decades, according to a Gallup poll released Friday.
According to the survey, the median approval rating of China’s leadership stood at 36%. For the United States, that figure fell to 31%—8 percentage points lower than in 2024. At the same time, China’s rating rose from 32% a year earlier.
The share of negative assessments of China’s leadership remained unchanged at 37%. For the United States, the disapproval rating reached a record 48%.
Last year marked the second consecutive year in which both countries posted negative net global ratings. China’s median net score stood at -1, while the United States fell to -15—the lowest figure on record.
China drew its strongest relative support from Russia, Pakistan, Tunisia and Singapore. At the same time, Gallup noted that these countries’ preferences “reflect deep negativity toward the U.S. more than strong enthusiasm for China.”
The United States, by contrast, enjoys stronger backing in Israel, Poland, Kosovo, the Philippines and Albania. Its approval levels in those countries are comparable to the degree of hostility toward China.
The survey also recorded one of the lowest shares in nearly 20 years of respondents without a defined opinion. Some 16% of those surveyed could not formulate a position on China, and 13% said the same of the United States.
“This suggests that global views of both powers are becoming more settled—more people are forming clear positions in both a positive and a negative direction,” Gallup said.
Even so, most countries do not show a pronounced preference for either side. Only 8% of countries display a clear tilt toward China, while 5% lean toward the United States. Another 40% hold moderately favorable views of both powers: 32% toward China and 8% toward the United States.
The release of the data coincided with Donald Trump’s decision to postpone a visit to China amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Last month, he said that although he wanted to visit China, “because of the war, I want to be here.” Earlier, he had also spoken of delaying the trip after urging other countries to help restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed after the conflict began.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt then stressed that Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was not “under threat.”