Poll shows rising trust in global institutions, less comfort with US as global leader

A new poll of over 35,000 people worldwide reveals rising trust in international institutions, yet less comfort with the United States or China as global leaders. Conducted in 34 countries from July 21 to August 5, the survey commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation found that nearly 70% of respondents believed the world had worsened over the past year.

Only 38% felt their national economies would improve in the next five years, with optimism down in major economies like India (50%) and China (56%). Despite pessimism, 57% of respondents supported cooperation to solve global challenges, up from 55% last year. The poll, released before the UN General Assembly, comes after seven months of war in the Middle East, disrupting energy markets, slowing economic growth, and raising inflation.

Three-quarters of the people surveyed did not view the United States or China favorably as global leaders, with Russia also receiving low comfort levels (26%). The United States was considered a threat in 15 countries, most notably in Indonesia (73%), Brazil (59%), Mexico (58%), and Turkey (57%). In contrast, Canada, Japan, and Australia showed the highest comfort levels for taking a leading role in world affairs, at 60%, 58%, and 55%, respectively.