Ipsos Global @dvisor: Perceptions of U.S. and Other Countries’ Influence on World Affairs

Washington, DC -Global public perception that the United States has a positive influence on world affairs has dropped sharply since the 2016 Presidential election.  Among the more than 18,000 citizens from 25 countries surveyed in April-May 2017 by Ipsos, only 40% rated the influence of the U.S. on world affairs as positive (10% very positive, 30% somewhat positive) while 60% rated it as negative (35% somewhat negative, 25% very negative). In a similar survey conducted in September-October 2016, 64% of global citizens rated the influence of the U.S. on world affairs as positive (19% very positive, 45% somewhat positive) vs. 36% who rated it as negative (25% somewhat negative, 11% very negative.)

None of the other 10 countries and four international organizations evaluated show an image decline as steep as the 24-point drop in positive views of the United States’ influence.

The United States’ loss in perceived positive influence over the six-month period is steepest in Mexico (positive ratings down 47 points), Spain (38 points), Peru (38 points), Belgium (33 points), South Korea (32 points), Argentina (30 points), Italy (28 points) and Canada (27 points). The U.S. is not showing any gain in perceived positive influence in any country surveyed both in October 2016 and May 2017. China is the only country where perceptions of U.S. influence remain nearly unchanged (down just 3 points).

The countries and organizations most widely rated by global citizens surveyed as having a positive influence on world affairs are: Canada (81%), Australia (79%), Germany (67%), the United Nations (64%), France (59%), the European Union (57%) and Great Britain (57%). The U.S. now trails China (50%), but remains ahead of Russia (35%), Israel (32%), and Iran (21%).

• The E.U. gets higher positive ratings than the U.S. in every country surveyed except the U.S. and Japan.
• China gets higher ratings than the U.S. in most countries surveyed except Japan, the U.S, South Korea, India, France, and Poland. 
• The U.S. gets higher ratings than Russia in most countries surveyed except Russia, Serbia, China, Mexico, Argentina and Turkey.  Countries where the U.S-Russia gap is most favorable to the U.S. are the U.S., Poland, France and Great Britain. 

Between September-October 2016 and April-May 2017, the proportion of Americans who have a positive view of U.S. influence on world affairs has dropped 17 points from 84% to 67%.  Americans are now more likely to look positively on the influence of Canada (86%), Australia (86%) and Great Britain (75%) and rate the U.S. on par with Germany (68%) and France (67%).

About the Study

The 2017 survey was conducted April 21-May 5, before President Trump’s first international tour in the Middle East and Europe. The 2016 surveyed was conducted September 23-October 7, five to six weeks before his election. The 2017 question was, “Thinking about right now, would you say the following countries or organizations are having an overall positive or a negative influence on world affairs?”. The 2016 question was, “Thinking about the next decade, would you say the following countries or organizations will have an overall positive or a negative influence on world affairs?”.

The survey instrument is conducted monthly in 25 countries around the world via the Ipsos Online Panel system. The countries reporting herein are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States of America.

For the results of the survey presented herein, an international sample of 18,055 adults aged 18-64 in the US and Canada, and age 16-64 in all other countries, were interviewed between April 21 and May 5, 2017. Approximately 1000+ individuals participated on a country by country basis via the Ipsos Online Panel with the exception of Argentina, Belgium, Hungary, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia,  Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden and Turkey, where each have a sample approximately 500+. The precision of Ipsos online polls are calculated using a credibility interval with a poll of 1,000 accurate to +/- 3.5 percentage points and of 500 accurate to +/- 5.0 percentage points. For more information on the Ipsos use of credibility intervals, please visit the Ipsos website.

16 of the 25 countries surveyed generate nationally representative samples in their countries (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and United States).

Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Serbia, South Africa and Turkey produce a national sample that is more urban and educated, and with higher incomes than their fellow citizens.  We refer to these respondents as “Upper Deck Consumer Citizens”.  They are not nationally representative of their country.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Clifford Young
President, US Public Affairs
Ipsos Public Affairs
202.420.2016
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks third in the global research industry.

With offices in 87 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media, customer loyalty, marketing, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues €1,669.5 ($2,218.4 million) in 2014.

Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos’ offerings and capabilities.