Americans view India unfavourably at a level not seen before in Pew Research Center’s tracking, with 50% of US adults now holding a negative opinion of India, compared with 45% who have a favourable view.
The findings come from Pew Research Center’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, which shows that American perceptions of India have weakened after a brief improvement last year. The survey was conducted in 36 countries between February and May 2026.
Americans view India unfavourably as ratings fall
The latest figures mark a clear shift from recent years. In 2023, 51% of Americans had a favourable opinion of India, while 44% viewed the country unfavourably. Favourability fell to 43% in 2024, recovered to 49% in 2025 and has now slipped to 45% in 2026.
At the same time, the unfavourable rating has reached 50%. Pew’s topline data shows that 38% of Americans have a somewhat unfavourable opinion of India and another 12% have a very unfavourable opinion.
The change means favourable views are now five percentage points lower than unfavourable views. It also represents a notable reversal from 2023, when favourable sentiment had a seven-point advantage over negative sentiment.
Younger Americans show more negative views
The survey highlights a generational divide in how Americans perceive India. Among adults aged 18 to 29, 42% have a favourable opinion of India, while 56% view the country unfavourably.
Among Americans aged 30 to 49, favourable opinion stands at 41%, compared with 54% who hold an unfavourable view. Older Americans are comparatively more positive, with around half of those aged 50 and above viewing India favourably.
The age divide is significant because it suggests that perceptions of India are not uniform across the American population. Younger adults, who will increasingly shape future political and public opinion, currently have a more negative view of the country.
Political divide also shapes India’s image
Political affiliation is another factor in the survey. About 50% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view India favourably, compared with 42% of Republicans and Republican-leaning Americans.
On the negative side, 55% of Republicans have an unfavourable opinion of India, compared with 47% of Democrats. The figures indicate that views of India also differ along political lines in the United States.
Despite the weaker public sentiment, the survey does not suggest that Americans see India’s international influence as declining. Around 54% said India’s influence in the world has remained about the same, while 30% said it is becoming stronger. Only 13% believed India’s global influence is becoming weaker.
India’s global image remains mixed
The US figures are part of a much broader picture rather than evidence of a universal decline in India’s image. Across the countries surveyed, India continues to receive strong favourable ratings in several places.
Sri Lanka recorded the highest favourable rating for India at 79%, followed by the UK and Kenya at 71% each. Germany recorded a 63% favourable rating. By contrast, Bangladesh had 42% favourable and 51% unfavourable views, while Pakistan recorded just 7% favourable and 91% unfavourable views.
The changes are also uneven across countries. Favourable views increased in the UK, Germany and Sri Lanka, while declines were recorded in the US, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico, Turkey and Nigeria.
The US result is therefore best understood as a warning sign for India’s soft power rather than a broad collapse in its international standing. The country continues to enjoy positive perceptions in several major economies, even as American opinion has become more divided.
Americans view India unfavourably more often than favourably in the latest survey, but the same data also shows that many Americans continue to regard India as an increasingly important global power.
The shift nevertheless matters for India-US relations over the longer term because public perceptions can influence a country’s soft power, particularly among younger generations. The latest Pew findings show that India’s growing global influence and its public image are not necessarily moving in the same direction.
