₦airaland Forum

Key Takeaways
Switzerland and Canada have the world’s highest net perception scores, both at +36.
The United States ranks among the five worst-perceived countries, with a score of -16.
Israel records the lowest score globally at -24, followed by Afghanistan and North Korea at -19.

How a country is viewed abroad can influence everything from tourism and investment to diplomacy and soft power. While countries such as Switzerland, Canada, and Japan enjoy strongly positive global reputations, others face much more negative perceptions.

This graphic ranks 65 countries by their average net perception score, calculated by subtracting negative views from positive views.

The data comes from the Democracy Perception Index 2026, which surveyed more than 46,000 respondents across 85 countries.

Nice Perceptions of the North Atlantic
Switzerland and Canada top the global rankings with net perception scores of +36, followed closely by Japan (+34) and Sweden (+33).

Of the top 15 best-perceived countries, over two-thirds are located in Europe. Member countries of the European Union, meanwhile, average out to around +26. This average is brought down substantially by France’s relatively low +11 score, which it shares with the United Kingdom.

The positive global perception of Canada and European countries like Switzerland and Italy (+32) may reflect a mix of factors, including domestic stability, quality of life, diplomatic positioning, and relatively open societies.

Positive perceptions also extend to other developed countries beyond the North Atlantic, including Australia and New Zealand (both +30), as well as major Asian economies such as Singapore and South Korea (both +21).

The Decline of American Soft Power
The United States stands out as a major outlier in the rankings. Despite being the world’s largest economy and one of its most influential countries, it receives a net perception score of -16, placing it among the five lowest-ranked nations in the survey.

While the global view of the U.S. has always been complex, shaped by immigration, culture, and foreign policy, it has deteriorated notably over the last decade. Under the Donald Trump administrations (2017-2021, 2025-present), surveys have consistently reflected a worsening of global public opinion of, and trust in, the United States.

As of 2026, the U.S. does not find itself in the company of peers like Germany, Japan, or even the United Kingdom. Instead, it ranks near countries such as Iran (-17) and Iraq (-13), both of which have long-standing geopolitical tensions with the U.S.

The Worst-Perceived Countries Worldwide
The U.S. is not alone in netting a negative perception score. India (-2) and Pakistan (-9) both received more negative responses than positive, as did Nigeria (-3), Russia (-11), and Saudi Arabia (-1).

No country fares worse than Israel, which has a -24 net perception score. Controversy around the country has grown in recent years owing to its conflicts in Gaza as well as Lebanon, Syria, and most notably Iran.

As a result, Israel records the lowest net perception score in the survey. It ranks below every other country evaluated, including Afghanistan and North Korea (both -19), underscoring how sharply global opinion has shifted in recent years.

WhiteIverson:
46,667 respondents out of 7 billion+ plus people on earth

Israel and US are hated because they deal with terrorists. The others are hated because some support terrorism and some have oppressive regimes.

PS: Nigeria and Iran both support terrorism and have oppressive regimes. For the Nigerian government to rehabilitate terrorist, it is clear that they support terrorism.

WhiteIverson:
46,667 respondents out of 7 billion+ plus people on earth

Israel and US are hated because they deal with terrorists. The others are hated because some support terrorism and some have oppressive regimes.

PS: Nigeria and Iran both support terrorism and have oppressive regimes. For the Nigerian government to rehabilitate terrorist, it is clear that they support terrorism.

UnstableFC:
If Yorubas are not in Nigeria

The figure will go up

Hespee93:
May God Almighty delivered you from this hatred against Islam, and also liberate you from this brain wash.

Laple0541:
Hmmmmmm

The same Israel Righteousness worships as his lord and saviour? This life no balance oooo!

sweetjohn:
All this jihadist? Anything to bring Israel name and image to the mould is a food for them. In reality Israel is the most loved country and the country receiving the most (God bless) blessings and prayers. We have billions of Christian’s that loved Israel. The world population is about 8billion or more and only less than 2billion Muslims can not make Israel the most hated country. In every seconds the number of (God bless Israel) in words or in written form is over 10million, every seconds o. Stupid jihadist

UnstableFC:
If Yorubas are not in Nigeria

The figure will go up

Eleph:
Not surprised at all.
Israel 🇮🇱 will always be at the top going by their satanic view towards other people of the world.
A country that derives pleasure in the destruction of lives and property for the fun of it in addition to land grabbing.

UnstableFC:
If Yorubas are not in Nigeria

The figure will go up

Hamziyah:
Yorubas are not the ones making them pursuing non-citizens from South Africa.

Yorubas are not the ones dragging kingship with Ghanaians

Yorubas are not the ones trafficking drugs in Mumbai
...

Key Takeaways
Switzerland and Canada have the world’s highest net perception scores, both at +36.
The United States ranks among the five worst-perceived countries, with a score of -16.
Israel records the lowest score globally at -24, followed by Afghanistan and North Korea at -19.

UnstableFC:
If Yorubas are not in Nigeria

The figure will go up

Hespee93:
May God Almighty delivered you from this hatred against Islam, and also liberate you from this brain wash.