Globally, China led the U.S. in 2025 leadership approval (36% vs. 31%), one of the widest gaps in 20 years, while U.S. disapproval hit a record high of 48%.

China surpassed the United States in global approval ratings in 2025, with a median of 36% approving of China’s leadership, compared with 31% for the U.S. China’s five-percentage-point advantage over the U.S. is the widest Gallup has recorded in China’s favor in nearly 20 years.