Iran, Pakistan, Israel most negatively rated countries: BBC poll
Pakistan is the only country which rated its own influence as negative, stated poll results.
Pakistan was ranked second in the list of most negatively rated countries in the world by a global poll for BBC World Service, which surveyed 24,090 people around the world.
Citizens of 22 countries were interviewed face-to-face or by telephone between December 6, 2011 and February 17, 2012. Polling was conducted by the international polling firm GlobeScan and its research partners in each country, together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland.
Pakistan was rated “mostly negative” by 51% of the respondents, getting placed just one spot above the most negatively rated country – Iran, which was rated negative by 55% of the total respondents.
According to the poll results, Pakistan is the only country which rated its own influence as negative.
A negative view of Pakistan declined by 4% as compared to 2011.
The survey results revealed that a negative view of Pakistan was found mostly in Western countries. Around 75% Americans, 69% Canadians and 72% Australians said Pakistan’s influence in the world is mainly negative. The pattern of negative perception was similar in the European countries. The view of Pakistan by India, country’s all-time arch rival, was negative as well.
Most of the respondents blamed Pakistan’s foreign policy and the poor treatment of its citizens for such a widespread negative perception of the country.
Out of 22 countries that were surveyed, Indonesia is the only one which holds a positive view of Pakistan.
Other findings
Japan was rated most positively by the majority of the respondents (58%), taking Germany’s last year position which had its positive ratings drop from 60% to 56%. This placed Germany in second place behind Japan.
Canada (53%) and the UK (51%) are the third and fourth most positively viewed countries.
China’s positive ratings rose from 46% to 50% this year.
Citizens of 22 countries were interviewed face-to-face or by telephone between December 6, 2011 and February 17, 2012. Polling was conducted by the international polling firm GlobeScan and its research partners in each country, together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland.
Pakistan was rated “mostly negative” by 51% of the respondents, getting placed just one spot above the most negatively rated country – Iran, which was rated negative by 55% of the total respondents.
According to the poll results, Pakistan is the only country which rated its own influence as negative.
A negative view of Pakistan declined by 4% as compared to 2011.
The survey results revealed that a negative view of Pakistan was found mostly in Western countries. Around 75% Americans, 69% Canadians and 72% Australians said Pakistan’s influence in the world is mainly negative. The pattern of negative perception was similar in the European countries. The view of Pakistan by India, country’s all-time arch rival, was negative as well.
Most of the respondents blamed Pakistan’s foreign policy and the poor treatment of its citizens for such a widespread negative perception of the country.
Out of 22 countries that were surveyed, Indonesia is the only one which holds a positive view of Pakistan.
Other findings
Japan was rated most positively by the majority of the respondents (58%), taking Germany’s last year position which had its positive ratings drop from 60% to 56%. This placed Germany in second place behind Japan.
Canada (53%) and the UK (51%) are the third and fourth most positively viewed countries.
China’s positive ratings rose from 46% to 50% this year.