Israel is currently viewed more negatively than any other country in the world. Following it on the list are North Korea, Afghanistan, and Iran, with the United States ranking fifth.

These findings emerged from a global survey on democracy and country perceptions for 2026, published by the international data and research firm, ‘Nira Data.’

Conversely, the top five countries enjoying the most positive global sentiment are Switzerland, Canada, Japan, Sweden, and Italy.

According to the survey results—specifically the ‘Global Country Perceptions 2026’ index—Israel has landed at the very bottom of the rankings. This list was compiled based on the opinions of 46,667 respondents regarding 129 countries and three international organizations.

The list was released alongside Nira Data’s ‘Democracy Perception Index 2026,’ in which 94,146 citizens across 98 countries provided direct feedback on their experiences with democracy in their respective nations.

These results serve as yet another major testament to Israel’s increasing international isolation—a consequence of its alleged ethnic killings in Gaza, the mass displacement of Palestinians, the use of starvation as a tactic, and the escalating violence perpetrated by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Israel’s global image has plummeted on the world stage following warnings from various human rights organizations, UN experts, and international courts regarding the occupying state’s grave violations of international law.

Concurrently, the United States has also experienced a significant decline in its global standing. In terms of international favorability, Washington has now joined the list of the top five most negatively perceived nations in the world. In terms of popularity, the US has now fallen below even Russia and China.

In the span of just two years, the United States’ net rating—or score—has plummeted from a positive 22 percent in 2024 to a negative 16 percent in 2026, marking a substantial drop of 38 points. The decline of the United States is primarily attributable to the growing global resentment toward U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. This includes strained relations with NATO allies, aggressive tariff policies, threats regarding Greenland, reduced aid to Ukraine, and Washington’s role in the conflicts involving Iran and Israel.

According to the survey, following Russia and Israel, the United States is now perceived as a major global threat to the world.

This democracy assessment index is touted as the world’s largest annual survey on democracy. Unlike other indices that rely on expert opinion, this one gathers feedback directly from citizens. It seeks to capture the experiences of ordinary people through a series of questions covering elections, freedom of speech, political pluralism, civic education, separation of powers, the rule of law, government transparency, and the peaceful transfer of power.

Occupying Israel’s negative standing is largely due to the sharp shift in global public opinion against it following its brutal attacks on Gaza. Since October 2023, Israel has killed over 74,000 Palestinians, destroyed the majority of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, and displaced nearly the entire population.

UN experts and genocide researchers have characterized the situation in Gaza as a premeditated act of ethnic cleansing.

Furthermore, regarding the United States, the survey results clearly indicate that Washington is paying a heavy price for its continued military, diplomatic, and political support of Israel. Despite mounting evidence of successive war crimes, U.S. administrations have shielded Israel from accountability at the United Nations and have continued to supply it with weaponry.

However, this survey reveals that global public opinion now increasingly views U.S. power as a symbol of impunity, double standards, and wars that destabilize the Middle East.