Global Survey Shows Mixed Views of India as Nation Marks 80 Years of Independence
A Pew Research Center poll across 36 nations finds 45% of respondents view India favorably while 41% hold an unfavorable opinion.
Pew Research Center surveyed adults in 36 countries from February to May 2026 to gauge sentiment toward India as it approaches its 80th year of independence. The worldwide median shows 45% favorable and 41% unfavorable opinions. Regional differences are stark: Sri Lanka records the highest favorability at 79%, while Pakistan registers only 7% positive views.
Turkey and the West Bank/East Jerusalem also exhibit low support. Positive sentiment is strong in Kenya, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Italy, Sweden, Japan and Thailand. Over the past surveys, favorability fell in ten nations, with the sharpest drops of ten percentage points in Turkey and Nigeria, and a fifteen-point decline in Bangladesh.
Gains were observed in Germany (+6 points), Britain (+11 points) and Sri Lanka (+14 points). Political ideology influences perceptions, with liberals in the United States and Canada more likely to view India favorably, while right-leaning Israelis show higher support.
Why it matters
Public opinion shapes India's diplomatic leverage and its ability to expand influence worldwide.
In this story
