Global Approval of the United Nations Outweighs Disapproval, but Support Varies Widely by Country and Region

As the UN prepares to name a new Secretary-General, a new Gallup report finds a median 50% of the world approves of the organization's job performance while 26% disapproves — giving the organization a net approval score of +24

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the United Nations enters a pivotal period of leadership transition, a median 50% of adults worldwide approve of the job the organization is doing, while 26% disapprove — resulting in a net approval score of +24 — according to Gallup's new report, How the World Rates the United Nations.

The report draws on Gallup World Poll surveys conducted across 137 countries in 2025. It finds that views of the UN are more positive than negative overall, even as public opinion remains far from a global consensus: The organization enjoys broad support in many countries, faces entrenched resistance in others, and is barely visible to some. The findings arrive as wars, humanitarian crises and deep geopolitical divisions strain the multilateral system and the UN prepares to name a new Secretary-General.

Even in this environment, the UN's 50% median approval is higher than Gallup's 2025 median approval ratings of the leadership of Germany (48%), China (36%), the United States (31%) and Russia (26%), although the questions are not directly comparable. China, the United States and Russia are all permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Approval Outweighs Disapproval in Most Countries

• Majorities approve of the UN in 67 of the 137 countries surveyed. In 92 countries, approval exceeds disapproval by at least 10 percentage points, and another seven lean positive by smaller margins.
• Far fewer countries view the UN negatively. Majorities disapprove in only nine countries, and disapproval exceeds approval by at least 10 points in 19 countries.
• Net approval ranges from +75 in Vietnam, +74 in Cambodia and +71 in Laos to -61 in Israel, -58 in Russia and -48 in Tunisia.

The UN Holds a Positive Edge in Nearly Every Region and Among Youth

• Support is strongest in Southeast Asia (+51 net approval) and sub-Saharan Africa (+43). Positive views also prevail across Europe, South Asia, Northern America and Post-Soviet Eurasia.
• The Middle East and North Africa is the only region where disapproval is substantially higher than approval, with a net approval of -23. Opinion in Latin America and the Caribbean is closely divided.
• Adults aged 15 to 29 have the highest median net approval in every region except Northern America, where views differ little by age.

Approval and Disapproval Don't Tell the Whole Story

• Across many countries, sizable numbers say their view of the UN depends on the circumstances, report being unfamiliar with the organization, or say they do not know enough to offer an opinion — suggesting views are less settled than they appear.
• Familiarity is most limited in South Asia, where a median 16% say they are unaware of the UN. Latin America and the Caribbean has the highest median percentage of those who don't know or refuse to answer, at 16%.
• At the country level, the pattern is sharper: 41% in South Korea say their view depends on the circumstances, 35% in Lesotho are unaware of the UN, and 45% in Bahrain don't know or refuse to offer an opinion.

Views From the Security Council and Where the UN Operates

• Among 2026 Security Council Member States with 2025 data, approval ranges from 79% in Denmark to 15% in Russia. Among states set to join in 2027, approval tops 60% in Zimbabwe, Portugal and Austria, compared with 39% in Kyrgyzstan.
• Where the UN has a substantial operational presence, approval is no more uniform — reaching 70% in Kosovo but falling to 9% in Israel, underscoring that presence alone does not translate into approval.

"President Lincoln once said that with public sentiment, nothing can fail, and without it, nothing can succeed. If Lincoln was right, the United Nations has what it needs. Around the world, far more people approve than disapprove of the job the UN is doing. That may be the most underreported fact in geopolitics," said Jon Clifton, CEO, Gallup.

The full report — including regional breakdowns, Security Council analysis, country-level results and the complete methodology — is available at gallup.com.

About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. For more than 80 years, Gallup has measured public opinion and global sentiment to inform decision-making worldwide.

SOURCE GALLUP, INC