March 3, 2020

Global Attitudes & Trends

A biweekly digest of the Center's latest findings from its worldwide public opinion surveys and demographic research · Subscribe ↗

VICE PRESIDENT'S NOTE

Commitment to democracy in question

The future of democracy will depend on the value citizens around the globe place on basic rights and freedoms. That’s why the Center has spent two decades tracking public attitudes toward democratic values around the globe.

Our new 34-country survey finds equal treatment before the law continues to be seen as an essential feature of democratic society. The survey also highlights areas of popular frustration, including the widespread perception that elected officials are out of touch with average citizens and growing doubt that the state is run for the benefit of all. In the end, people give today’s democracies mixed marks. Take a closer look at our findings to see where democracy scores better and worse.

James Bell

Vice President of Global Strategy

Democratic rights popular globally but commitment to them not always strong

Democracy remains a popular idea among average citizens around the globe, but commitment to democratic ideals is not always strong, a new Pew Research Center report finds. And many in the 34 nations polled are unhappy with how democracy is working.

How people around the world see democracy in 8 charts

People in Asia-Pacific regard the U.S. more favorably than China, but Trump gets negative marks

The United States and China have long been locked in competition over their standings as economic and world powers. And, in a region where this competition hits close to home, views of the U.S. remain strongly favorable when compared with those of China in the Asia-Pacific.

While India’s public views Trump positively, there’s less enthusiasm for his trade policies

A majority of Indians have confidence in Donald Trump to do the right thing when it comes to world affairs. Trump’s image in India has gained favor since his candidacy in 2016, jumping from 14% confidence to 56% over three years.

The share of immigrant workers in high-skill jobs is rising in the U.S.

Immigrants remain more likely than U.S.-born workers to work in lower-skill occupations. But the share of immigrants in high-skill, nonmechanical jobs has risen in recent decades, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of federal government data. The shift has been most notable in jobs that prioritize analytical skills, such as science and math, or fundamental skills, such as writing and speaking.

Naturalized citizens to make up record one-in-ten U.S. eligible voters in 2020

Hailing from countries across the globe, more than 23 million U.S. immigrants who are naturalized citizens will be eligible to vote in the 2020 presidential election, making up roughly 10% of the nation’s overall electorate – both record highs. Immigrants from Mexico make up the single largest group, at 16% of foreign-born voters.