Israel Ranks as the Most Disliked Country Globally in Recent Polls, Researchers Say
New international survey data show Israel’s global image at historic lows, with negative perception reaching as high as 97 percent in some samples.
Israel is now ranked as the most negatively perceived country in the world in several recent international polls, with one widely circulated dataset reporting up to 97.55 percent negative sentiment in the countries surveyed.
The numbers, while varying by methodology, reflect a sharp deterioration in Israel’s global image over the past two years, driven primarily by the ongoing war in Gaza and its spillover into Lebanon.
What the polls measure
Most cross-country surveys ask respondents whether they hold a “favorable” or “unfavorable” view of a list of nations. In recent waves:
- Israel’s unfavorable numbers have surged across Europe, Latin America, the Arab world, and parts of Asia.
- Even in the United States, where support has historically been strongest, younger voters increasingly report negative views.
- Approval has held up more strongly among older voters and self-identified conservatives.
Why it matters
A collapse in soft power has real consequences: tougher diplomatic conditions, boycott campaigns, restrictions on Israeli participation in sporting and cultural events, and growing legal pressure at international bodies such as the International Court of Justice.
Israeli officials have publicly attributed the slide to what they describe as antisemitism, disinformation, and biased coverage. Critics counter that the numbers track closely with images of destruction in Gaza and civilian casualties in Lebanon, and that the rejection is a reaction to specific policies rather than to Jewish identity.
Either way, the trend line is stark — and it is unlikely to reverse quickly even if a ceasefire holds.
Sources: Pew Research Center cross-national polling; YouGov Eurotrack; Arab Barometer; reporting by Haaretz, Reuters, The Guardian.
