LONDON, May 24 (UPI) — Germany is the most popular country in the world, a British poll indicated, pushing Japan out of the top spot.
The annual rating of 16 countries and the European Union was compiled from interviews with more than 26,000 people in 25 countries, the BBC reported Thursday.
GlobeScan and PIPA conducted the poll for the BBC.
Asked if their views about a country were “mainly positive” or “mainly negative,” 59 percent of those surveyed rated Germany positively. That was a 3 percentage point increase from last year.
Japan lost its position atop the rankings, dropping 7 points to 51 percent and in fourth place.
The United Kingdom showed the biggest increase in popularity among the nations, rising to third place behind Germany and Canada. France ranked after Japan.
The United States, with a score of 45 mainly positive and 34 mainly negative, came in eighth behind the overall European Union and Brazil.
Favorable views of China and India dropped considerably in the past year, the poll indicated. China fell to ninth place, its lowest ranking since the poll began in 2005. India, with 35 percent negative views to 34 percent positive, fell to 12th place.
Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and Iran also were low in the ratings. Only 15 percent had positive views of Iran.
The poll was conducted face-to-face or by telephone, was conducted Dec. 10-April 9. The margin of error ranged from 3 percentage points to 4.9 percent points for each country.
Copyright 2013 United Press International, Inc. (UPI).
wE SHOULD BE 1ST – The way aour public servants pass out hour private citizens money to these other countries while they choke progression in the private sector. When the last time you told your boss what to do?
Why should we be #1 in your mind?