79% in Sri Lanka but just 7% in Pakistan: New Pew survey reveals how 36 countries view India

The survey additionally discovered that views of India differ by age and political affiliation within the US. Amongst Individuals aged 65 and older, 50 per cent view India favourably, in contrast with 42 per cent amongst these aged 18 to 29.

Political affiliation produces one other divide — 50 per cent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have a beneficial view of India, in contrast with 42 per cent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.

The findings come as India has turn out to be an more and more necessary participant in world affairs, whereas Washington-New Delhi ties have additionally confronted tensions over issues including trade and immigration.

Pew individually discovered that 30 per cent of Individuals consider India’s world affect is getting stronger, whereas 54 per cent say it has remained about the identical and 13 per cent consider it has weakened.

How the world views India

Throughout the 36 international locations surveyed, a median of 45 per cent expressed a beneficial view of India, in contrast with a median of 41 per cent who held an unfavourable view.

Opinions fluctuate dramatically throughout India’s neighbourhood. Sri Lanka has the most favourable view of India amongst India’s neighbours, with 79 per cent expressing a constructive opinion. Against this, only 7 per cent of Pakistanis have a favourable view of India.

The UK additionally stands out, with 71 per cent of Britons expressing a beneficial opinion. Kenya recorded the identical determine.

Germany was at 63 per cent, whereas Italy recorded 56 per cent, Sweden 55 per cent and Japan 55 per cent. Thailand stood at 55 per cent, whereas Canada recorded 51 per cent.

India’s picture was significantly weaker in another international locations. Solely 15 per cent in Turkey had a beneficial view of India, whereas the determine was 18 per cent within the West Financial institution and East Jerusalem. In each locations, majorities expressed an unfavourable opinion.

Bangladesh sees sharp fall in beneficial views

One of many greatest adjustments was recorded in Bangladesh, the place Pew final surveyed public opinion in 2024. The share of Bangladeshis with a favourable opinion of India fell 15 proportion factors, from 57 per cent to 42 per cent.

The Pew survey additionally discovered that the proportion of Bangladeshis who didn’t supply an opinion additionally dropped sharply, from 24 per cent to 7 per cent. The discovering places Bangladesh among the many international locations the place India’s picture has deteriorated most sharply for the reason that earlier survey.

What about Asia?

India’s picture can be uneven throughout Asia. Japan and Thailand each recorded 55 per cent beneficial rankings, whereas Singapore was at 51 per cent and Malaysia at 41 per cent.

The Philippines recorded 49 per cent beneficial, Indonesia 50 per cent and South Korea 44 per cent.

In distinction, Sri Lanka’s score rose sharply. The neighbouring international locations, due to this fact, current a noticeably totally different image, from 79% beneficial in Sri Lanka to simply 7% in Pakistan.

The Pew survey additionally discovered ideological variations in views of India.

In Israel, 68 per cent of individuals on the correct had a beneficial view of India, in contrast with 46 per cent on the left.