Do the world trust US government more or Chinese government more?
Based on recent international surveys, global trust in the U.S. government tends to edge out trust in the Chinese government, though results vary by survey scope, methodology, and regions covered. Trust is often measured via confidence in national leaders (as a proxy for government) or favorable views of the countries themselves. Here's a breakdown from key sources:
Pew Research Center (Spring 2025 Survey Across 24 Countries)
This survey, focusing mostly on high- and middle-income nations in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa, shows:
- Median favorable views: 49% for the U.S., 37% for China. Views of the U.S. have declined in many countries compared to 2024, while views of China have slightly improved.
- Confidence in leaders to "do the right thing regarding world affairs": 34% median for U.S. President Donald Trump, 25% for Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump outperforms Xi in most surveyed countries (e.g., Israel: 69% vs. 9%; Japan: higher for Trump), while Xi leads in a few like Mexico (36% vs. 8%).
Gallup World Poll (2023 Data Across 133 Countries, Latest Available)
Gallup measures approval of each country's leadership, which aligns closely with trust in government actions on the global stage. In a head-to-head comparison using net approval scores (% approve minus % disapprove):
- The U.S. leadership has a net advantage over China's in 81 countries.
- China has the advantage in 52 countries.
- No clear edge in the remainder. The U.S. edge is strongest in Europe and parts of Asia (e.g., Kosovo: +154 point advantage), while China's is prominent in Russia (-132 point U.S. disadvantage) and some African/Middle Eastern nations. This broad sample suggests the U.S. government is trusted more in a majority of countries worldwide, though trends could shift with 2024-2025 data (expected soon).
Democracy Perception Index (2025 Survey Across 100 Countries)
This broader survey, including more developing nations, paints a contrasting picture focused on net favorability (% positive minus % negative views of the country):
- Global net favorability: +14 for China, -5 for the U.S. (a sharp drop from +20 for the U.S. in 2024).
- Net positive views of China in 76 countries (79%), especially in the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.
- Net positive views of the U.S. in about 45 countries (45%), with declines attributed to perceptions of U.S. policies under the Trump administration. This indicates stronger positive perceptions of China in a majority of surveyed nations, particularly in the Global South where Chinese investments (e.g., Belt and Road Initiative) influence views.
Overall Insights
- U.S. Advantage: In surveys with wider country coverage like Gallup (133 nations), the U.S. government/leadership is trusted or approved more in more places, especially among allies and high-income countries. Population-weighted, this might tilt further toward the U.S. given strong support in populous nations like India and Brazil.
- Chinese Advantage: In expansive samples emphasizing developing regions (e.g., DPI's 100 nations), China often fares better due to economic ties and less emphasis on human rights/democracy concerns.
- Trends: U.S. ratings have dipped since 2024 amid geopolitical tensions, while China's have risen slightly. Neither commands overwhelming global trust—majorities in many countries express low confidence in both.
- Caveats: These metrics aren't identical (leaders vs. countries), and no single survey captures "the world" perfectly. Results can fluctuate with events like trade policies or conflicts.
If you're interested in a specific region or metric, more details could refine this.
