This question set is run every three months. The latest data update is from May 2026.

The data can be downloaded from the chart below. A series of general observations about the trends depicted are available further down this page.

General observations

European attitudes to China

Favourability towards China deteriorated substantially between 2018 and 2023, although it has partially recovered since then. Spanish and Italian attitudes towards China prove to be substantially warmer than those in the other countries surveyed.

European attitudes to Egypt

Attitudes towards Egypt have also trended upwards significantly since 2016, although they are still negative overall.

European attitudes to France

Favourability towards France has remained consistently positive throughout the series, with no clear sustained upward or downward trend.

European attitudes to Germany

Germany is also persistently viewed favourably and generally receives stronger ratings than France.

European attitudes to India

Favourability towards India deteriorated between 2019 and 2023 and has since recovered somewhat, although attitudes remain negative overall. British attitudes towards India have been notably warmer than those elsewhere.

European attitudes to Iran

Iran has persistently been among the least favourably viewed countries surveyed. Attitudes have become modestly more negative over time and are now overwhelmingly unfavourable in every country included.

European attitudes to Israel

Favourability towards Israel has declined markedly since late 2023, doubtless a consequence of the Gaza conflict. The significant dip in mid-2021 was likewise a result of a series of major Israeli strikes on Gaza in May of that year.

European attitudes to Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway

The Nordic countries are persistently the most positively rated, with an average of around 71-91% in each respondent country taking a favourable view of each Nordic nation throughout the series.

European attitudes to Japan

Japan has been viewed consistently favourably, with ratings strengthening markedly since 2023. It is now the most positively rated country surveyed outside the Nordic group.

European attitudes to Saudi Arabia

Attitudes towards Saudi Arabia remain strongly negative, although there has been a modest but sustained improvement since 2023.

European attitudes to South Africa

Favourability towards South Africa has remained broadly stable throughout the tracker, with attitudes generally divided to negative.

European attitudes to Russia

Favourability towards Russia - already low - declined substantially following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and has remained low ever since.

European attitudes to Turkey

Attitudes towards Turkey have trended substantially upwards since this tracker series began in 2016, although they do still remain negative overall.

European attitudes to the United Kingdom

Favourability towards the UK has consistently lagged behind that of France and Germany overall (except among Italians). Favourability towards the country declined between and 2021, but has since recovered.

European attitudes to the United States

Attitudes towards the United States are highly correlated with the occupier of the Oval Office, with favourability in most countries improving markedly when Joe Biden took office and declining rapidly upon Donald Trump's re-election. Negativity towards the US during Trump's second term has surpassed the lowest point of his first term in Britain and Denmark, and approximately matched those levels in France and Germany.

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