India’s image in the United States has taken a notable hit, with a new global survey finding that only 45% of Americans now have a favourable opinion of India, while 50% hold an unfavourable view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the first time since Pew Research Center began asking the question in 2008 that the unfavourable share has reached 50% in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The findings come from Pew’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, which covered 42,092 people across 36 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India’s US Favourability Has Fallen Since 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest numbers continue a downward trend in American perceptions of India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023, 51% of Americans viewed India favourably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That figure fell to 43% in 2024 before recovering slightly to 49% in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has now dropped further to 45% in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest result represents a four-percentage-point decline from last year and puts favourable opinion five points below the unfavourable rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Young Americans Are More Negative About India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The survey also shows a clear age divide in how Americans view India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 42% of Americans aged 18 to 29 have a favourable opinion of India, while 56% view the country unfavourably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among Americans aged 30 to 49, 41% have a favourable opinion and 54% an unfavourable one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The picture is considerably more positive among older Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around 50% of people aged 50 to 64 and those aged 65 and above view India favourably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This suggests that India’s image varies significantly across generations in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Political Differences Are Also Visible<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Political affiliation also plays a role in American perceptions of India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around 50% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view India favourably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among Republicans and Republican-leaning Americans, the figure is lower at 42%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other side, 55% of Republicans have an unfavourable opinion of India, compared with 47% of Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The survey also found that political ideology matters within the parties, with liberal Americans considerably more likely than conservatives to hold a favourable view of India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India’s Global Image Is Mixed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The US is not the only country where opinions about India are divided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the 36 countries surveyed, the median favourable rating for India was 45%, while the median unfavourable rating stood at 41%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India received its strongest favourable rating in Sri Lanka, where 79% of respondents viewed the country positively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The United Kingdom also recorded a strong 71% favourable rating, followed by Kenya at 71% and Germany at 63%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neighbouring Countries Have Very Different Views<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Opinions of India vary dramatically across its neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sri Lanka recorded the highest favourable rating at 79%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bangladesh was considerably more divided, with 42% viewing India favourably and 51% unfavourably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The contrast with Pakistan is even more striking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 7% of respondents in Pakistan expressed a favourable opinion of India, while 91% held an unfavourable view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This makes Pakistan the country with the most negative perception of India among those surveyed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India’s Image Has Improved In Some Countries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The global picture is not entirely negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India’s favourability increased significantly in several countries compared with the previous survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The United Kingdom recorded an 11-point increase, taking its favourable rating from 60% to 71%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Germany saw a six-point increase to 63%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sri Lanka also recorded a substantial improvement compared with its previous survey, with favourable views rising by 14 percentage points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means India’s global image is not uniformly deteriorating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Declines Were Recorded In Several Countries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, India experienced significant declines in some markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Favourable views fell by 10 percentage points in both Turkey and Nigeria compared with 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The US, Indonesia, South Africa and Mexico also recorded declines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bangladesh experienced an especially sharp deterioration compared with its previous survey in 2024, with favourable views falling by 15 percentage points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Americans Still See India’s Global Influence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the decline in favourability, Americans do not overwhelmingly believe India’s global influence is weakening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Around 54% of Americans said India’s influence in the world has remained about the same in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another 30% believe India’s influence is becoming stronger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 13% said India’s global influence is becoming weaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This suggests that perceptions of India’s growing international importance remain relatively positive even as opinions about the country itself have become less favourable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India’s Soft Power Faces A New Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest numbers are significant because the United States is one of India’s most important strategic, economic and diplomatic partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A decline in public favourability does not automatically translate into weaker government-to-government relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, public perception matters for a country’s soft power, particularly over the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n India has invested heavily in strengthening its global image through diplomacy, economic partnerships, technology, culture and its growing role in international affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pew findings suggest that maintaining that positive perception may become increasingly challenging, particularly among younger Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Warning Sign, Not A Complete Reversal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n India’s 45% favourable rating in the US should not be interpreted as a collapse in India’s global standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The country continues to receive favourable ratings in several major economies, including the UK, Germany, Italy and Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the US numbers are notable because they represent a sustained decline from the 51% favourable rating recorded in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The generational divide is particularly important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If younger Americans continue to view India less favourably than older generations, the country could face a longer-term challenge in maintaining its soft power among future American voters, consumers and policymakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"1st](\"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/835985-56944-yaojkeisjm-1493398413-1024x538.jpg\")
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