Latin America poll finds China viewed more positively than the United States for first time since 1995

A new regional survey has found that China is now viewed more positively than the United States as a global influence across Latin America. The 2026 Latinobarometro poll, published on Friday, marks the first time since the survey began in 1995 that China has ranked ahead of the US on this measure. The findings cover 17 countries and point to a notable shift in public attitudes across the region.

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The survey said 65% of respondents saw China as a positive influence, compared with 57% for the United States. Support for China has risen sharply since 2020, when 48% of respondents viewed its influence positively. Over the same period, the US figure fell from 60%, suggesting a steady decline in perceptions of Washington's regional role.

Latinobarometro, a Chile-based nonprofit organisation, conducts annual surveys on democracy, the economy, security and migration. The 2026 poll was based on about 19,200 face-to-face interviews carried out between May 7 and June 17, with a margin of error of 1%. Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were the only countries where respondents viewed US influence more positively than China's.

The US remained ahead of China on overall favourability, however, with 63% saying they had a favourable opinion of the US and 58% saying the same of China. The result matters because it captures a broader contest for influence in Latin America, where both Washington and Beijing have sought to deepen ties. The survey comes during Donald Trump's second term, as his administration has tried to strengthen US influence in the region.

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The findings suggest that public perceptions of global power are not moving in step with diplomatic or military efforts, even as the US remains the region's more familiar partner in many areas. The poll also reflects a wider backdrop of changing attitudes toward the United States. The survey noted that the US figure on overall favourability was down from 73% in 2024, while China's standing has improved over several years.

Latinobarometro's long-running series is often watched as a barometer of political and social sentiment across Latin America, making the latest result significant beyond a single annual snapshot. The survey also asked about the US military capture of Venezuela's then-leader Nicolas Maduro, with a majority in all but one country, Argentina, approving the operation. Views were more divided on what it meant for Venezuela, with 35% saying removing Maduro had benefited the country and 28% saying it had harmed it.

It remains unclear whether the shift in perceptions of China and the US will continue in future polling, and whether governments in the region will respond to the change in public opinion.

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