Americans are turning against India: Survey shows sharp drop in favorable views

# Americans’ Views of India Turn Unfavourable for the First Time in Pew Survey

Americans are becoming increasingly less positive about India, with unfavourable opinions now exceeding favourable views for the first time since the Pew Research Center began tracking attitudes toward the country in 2008. The shift comes as India’s global image remains relatively strong, highlighting a growing difference between American perceptions and views in other parts of the world.

According to Pew’s Spring 2026 Global Attitudes Survey, 45% of U.S. adults said they have a favourable opinion of India, while 50% expressed an unfavourable view. The figures represent one of India’s weakest ratings among Americans in Pew’s nearly two decades of tracking.

The change has been gradual but noticeable. In 2023, 51% of Americans viewed India positively. That figure declined to 49% in 2025 before falling another four percentage points this year. Pew described the latest results as among the lowest ratings recorded since it began asking Americans about their views of India.

Political affiliation appears to play a significant role in shaping those perceptions. Around 50% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents expressed a favourable opinion of India, compared with 42% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. The ideological gap was even wider, with 54% of liberals holding a positive view compared with just 40% of conservatives.

Age also influenced attitudes toward India. Americans aged 65 and older were the most likely to view the country favourably, with 50% expressing a positive opinion. Among younger adults aged 18 to 29, the figure fell to 42%, suggesting a noticeable generational difference in perceptions.

Despite the decline in the United States, India continues to maintain a relatively positive image internationally. Across the 36 countries surveyed, a median of 45% of respondents viewed India favourably, while 41% held an unfavourable opinion.

Several countries showed particularly strong support for India. Sri Lanka recorded the highest favourable rating at 79%, followed by Kenya and the United Kingdom, both at 71%. Germany also recorded comparatively positive views of India.

However, India’s image has weakened in some other countries as well. South Korea, Turkey and Bangladesh were among the nations where favourable opinions have declined in recent years, indicating that the shift is not limited entirely to the United States.

The Pew survey also explored how Americans perceive India’s growing role in global affairs. While 54% said India’s influence has remained roughly unchanged, 30% believed the country has become more influential on the world stage.

The findings present a mixed picture for India. The country continues to enjoy strong international recognition and favourable views in several nations, but its image among Americans has weakened considerably. The growing political and generational divide could make future changes in U.S. public opinion toward India particularly important as the two countries continue to strengthen their economic and strategic ties.