What the 36-Country Pew Survey Says About India's Global Standing
A new Pew Research Center survey of 36 countries finds India's global image tilting positive in more places than not, but with sharp regional differences. Twenty of the countries surveyed recorded a higher share of respondents viewing India favourably than unfavourably, while 16 countries showed the reverse.
Europe is the clearest bright spot. Germany gave India a 63% favourable rating against 29% unfavourable, while the UK's favourable share reached 71%. Nine of the 10 European countries surveyed viewed India more favourably than unfavourably. By contrast, US opinion is roughly split, and neighbouring Bangladesh is a notable exception with 51% viewing India unfavourably against 42% favourably.
The time trend also matters. Britain's favourable rating rose from 65% in 2023 to 71% in 2026, and Germany's climbed from 47% to 63%. In the United States, however, favourability slipped from 51% in 2023 to about half by 2026. The survey does not identify the reasons behind these shifts, but the pattern is consistent across several major European economies.
Behind the Europe–US Divide in Views of India
Germany's 16-Point Jump Is the Standout Shift
Germany's favourable rating rose from 47% to 63% between 2023 and 2026, the sharpest gain reported in the article. The data do not explain the cause, but the movement suggests that India's profile in Europe's largest economy has strengthened on a broad basis rather than among a narrow group. For Indian diplomacy and business, this is a meaningful reputational asset in a market central to technology, manufacturing and skilled-migration ties.
The US Result Is More Ambivalent Than Europe's
US favourability has moved in the opposite direction from Europe, falling from 51% in 2023 to roughly half by 2026. Even though the US remains a close strategic partner for India, the survey suggests American public opinion is no longer as warm as European opinion. The source gives slightly conflicting current figures for the US, but the direction is clear: American sentiment is cooling while European sentiment improves.
Bangladesh Stands Out as a South Asia Exception
Bangladesh's 51% unfavourable rating is the most negative major-country figure cited in the article. This is a regional contrast rather than a global trend: India's positive tilt is driven mainly by Western Europe, not by its immediate neighbourhood. The survey does not identify the reasons, but the gap is large enough to matter for people-to-people ties, trade and border-region politics.
What India's Diplomatic and Business Outreach Should Take From the Data
The survey's value is not that it predicts policy, but that it shows where India starts from with different public audiences. The practical implications follow from the specific countries named.
- Prioritise Germany and the UK in European outreach. With favourable ratings of 63% and 71% respectively, these are the strongest major-country readings cited. India-linked businesses, trade bodies and cultural institutions can build on existing goodwill rather than starting from a neutral or sceptical base.
- Do not assume US public opinion tracks Europe. US favourability has fallen from 51% in 2023 to about half. US-facing campaigns should address scepticism directly instead of relying on shared-democracy arguments or assuming the European narrative applies.
- Treat Bangladesh as a distinct communications challenge. With 51% viewing India unfavourably, South Asia outreach needs a different starting point from Western Europe. Engagement should acknowledge the unfavourable baseline rather than importing messaging designed for London or Berlin.
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