China's global approval rating has surpassed that of the United States for the first time in nearly two decades, according to a Gallup poll released Friday. The survey marks the widest favorability gap between the two superpowers since 2006.

Gallup's polling found that China's global approval rating reached a median of 36 percent in 2025, reflecting support for the country's leadership across multiple nations surveyed. The United States saw its global approval rating fall below China's for the first time since the mid-2000s, though specific figures for US approval were not immediately available in the initial poll release.

The shift represents a significant change in global perceptions of the two nations' leadership and international standing. Gallup has been tracking international approval ratings for both countries for more than 15 years, providing a long-term perspective on how global opinion has evolved.

The polling results come amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the US and China across multiple fronts, including trade, technology, and regional security issues. The survey methodology and sample size details were not immediately specified in the initial release of the findings.

This reversal in approval ratings suggests changing dynamics in how the international community views the leadership and policies of both nations, potentially reflecting shifts in diplomatic relationships and global influence patterns over recent years.