Global survey shows 45% median favourable view of India in 2026

A Pew Research Center survey of 36 countries and over 42,000 respondents, conducted between February and May 2026, found that a median of 45% hold a favourable view of India. The strongest support comes from Sri Lanka, where 79% view India positively, up from 65% in 2024. India is also viewed favourably in Kenya and the UK, both at 71%, followed by Germany at 63%, Israel at 60%, and Thailand and Italy at 55% each.

Views in neighbouring countries are more divided. In Bangladesh, 42% have a favourable opinion while 51% are unfavourable. Pakistan recorded the most negative assessment, with 91% expressing an unfavourable view. In the US, 45% view India favourably and 50% unfavourably, a decline from 51% in 2023. Pew reports a partisan gap, with 50% of Democrats and 42% of Republicans holding a favourable view. The survey shows India's perception remains stable in most countries, with a notable rise in France from 39% in 2023 to 50% this year.