China has surpassed the United States in global approval ratings for the first time since 2006, according to a new Gallup poll released Friday. The survey found that China's global approval rating reached a median of 36 percent in 2025, while U.S. leadership saw its median approval rating drop to 31 percent — an 8 percentage point decline since 2024.

The poll marks the widest favorability gap between the two countries in almost 20 years. China's approval rose from 32 percent in 2024, while disapproval of Chinese leadership remained flat at 37 percent. U.S. leadership's disapproval reached a record-high of 48 percent.

Last year was the second year on record where both countries registered negative net global approval ratings. China's median net approval dipped to -1, while the U.S. dropped to a median net approval of -15 — the lowest on record for America.

The survey results come amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, where President Trump delayed his visit to China amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the time that Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was not 'in jeopardy.' China and Iran share strategic and economic ties.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservatives have attributed China's rising approval to state-sponsored propaganda and influence operations, rather than genuine global support for Beijing's policies. Critics note that countries showing strong alignment with China — including Russia, Pakistan, Tunisia and Singapore — often reflect 'deep negativity toward the U.S. more than strong enthusiasm for China,' as Gallup itself characterized the trend.

Conservative analysts have argued that the poll numbers reflect temporary sentiment shifts driven by current events rather than fundamental attitudes toward either power. Some have pointed to U.S. allies in Europe and Asia — including Israel, Poland, Kosovo, the Philippines and Albania — who continue to favor American leadership.

Republicans have also emphasized that negative perceptions of both countries suggest global audiences are increasingly skeptical of great power leadership in general, rather than rejecting the U.S. specifically. The poll showed that 40 percent of countries remain weakly aligned to either power, with only 8 percent strongly aligned to China versus 5 percent to the U.S.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive critics of U.S. foreign policy pointed to the poll as evidence that the administration's approach to international relations has alienated global public opinion. The decline in U.S. approval coincides with the Trump administration's aggressive stance on trade, tariffs, and its handling of conflicts in the Middle East.

Progressives have argued that the U.S. needs to reengage with multilateral institutions and allies to rebuild its global standing. Some Democratic foreign policy voices have called for renewed diplomatic engagement, particularly with developing nations in Africa and Southeast Asia where China has made significant inroads.

The poll also showed that U.S. disapproval reached record levels, with 48 percent of global respondents expressing unfavorable views of American leadership. Progressives have suggested that this reflects growing resentment toward U.S. military interventions and perceived unilateralism in foreign policy.

What the Numbers Show

The key statistics from the Gallup poll paint a clear picture of shifting global sentiment. China achieved 36 percent global approval in 2025, up from 32 percent in 2024. U.S. approval fell to 31 percent, down from 39 percent the prior year.

Net approval ratings reveal an even starker trend. China's net approval stands at -1, essentially neutral, while the U.S. has dropped to -15 — its lowest recorded level. This marks only the second year both powers have posted negative net approval simultaneously.

Regional patterns are notable. Countries including Russia, Pakistan, Tunisia and Singapore showed the strongest preference for China, while Israel, Poland, Kosovo, the Philippines and Albania favored the U.S. Notably, Gallup determined these preferences 'reflect deep negativity toward the U.S. more than strong enthusiasm for China.'

The percentage of respondents with no opinion has reached near 20-year lows, at 16 percent for China and 13 percent for the U.S. 'This suggests that global views of both powers are becoming more defined, with more people forming clear opinions in both positive and negative directions,' Gallup stated.

Strong alignment remains limited: 8 percent of countries are strongly aligned with China compared to 5 percent for the U.S. Another 40 percent are weakly aligned, with 32 percent leaning toward China and just 8 percent toward the United States.

The Bottom Line

The Gallup poll marks a significant milestone in global perceptions of great power leadership. For the first time in nearly two decades, more countries express approval of Chinese leadership than American leadership, driven largely by declining U.S. favorability rather than increased enthusiasm for Beijing.

The timing coincides with President Trump's delayed China visit amid the Middle East conflict and continued U.S.-Iran tensions. While the White House has downplayed any diplomatic chill, the poll suggests global public opinion may be shifting in ways that could affect U.S. leverage in international negotiations.

Both superpowers now face negative net global approval — a first in the nearly 20 years Gallup has tracked these metrics. What remains to be seen is whether this represents a permanent shift in global sentiment or a reaction to current events that could reverse as geopolitical circumstances change. The declining 'no opinion' rates suggest global audiences are forming firmer, potentially more enduring opinions about both powers.