Harris or Trump, Ukraine or Russia? A global survey by The Economist reveals the divisions among countries worldwide.

Harris or Trump

The results indicate significant support for Kamala Harris in Europe, while Donald Trump has more fans in the Global South. On average, 45% of respondents across all 29 countries surveyed support Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, while Republican candidate Donald Trump garners support from 33% of respondents. In Europe, the gap is wider: 55% of respondents preferred Kamala Harris, with only 26% backing Donald Trump.

Harris enjoys the most support in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Spain, where between 55% and 70% of respondents would vote for the Democrat. Even in Britain, where Harris has the lowest support among European countries, at least 40% of respondents would vote for the U.S. Vice President, while only 30% would support Trump.

Conversely, in Africa, Asia, and South America, Trump enjoys greater backing than Harris. For instance, in Vietnam, over 70% of respondents prefer Trump as the U.S. President, while slightly more than 20% support Harris. The Republican candidate has strong backing in Turkey (Trump — over 50%, Harris — under 25%), Nigeria (Trump — 50%, Harris — around 30%), Saudi Arabia (Trump — around 40%, Harris — about 20%), and Egypt (Trump — around 40%, Harris — around 30%).

In India, the world's most populous country, respondents are nearly evenly divided (over 40% would vote for Trump, more than 30% for Harris). A similar situation exists in Argentina and Indonesia, where Trump holds a slight advantage.

The survey was also conducted in Hong Kong, which came under Chinese jurisdiction in 1997 but still maintains a democratic system. Here, Trump has a slight edge (around 30% of respondents would vote for Harris, while over 40% would support Trump).

It is worth noting that young people worldwide are also nearly evenly split in their preferences for Trump and Harris. Among those aged 25 to 34, an average of 40% support Kamala Harris, while 38% back Donald Trump.

Ukraine or Russia

According to the results of a global survey commissioned by the Economist, on average 54% of respondents wish for a Ukrainian victory in the Russia-Ukraine war, while only 20% supported Russia. Only in 5 of the 29 countries surveyed do the majority of respondents wish for a Russian victory.

In Indonesia and Vietnam, over 50% of respondents support Russia, while only around 20% favor Ukraine. In India, more than 40% of respondents prefer a Russian victory (around 30% for Ukraine), and in Egypt, 49% support Russia (around 30% for Ukraine). In Saudi Arabia, 37% of respondents back Russia (only 19% for Ukraine).

Ukraine receives the most backing in Europe and among other U.S. allies worldwide, such as South Korea and Japan. For example, in South Korea, 75% of respondents support Ukraine, while less than 10% support Russia.

Moreover, there is considerable support for Ukraine in several major Global South countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa, whose governments do not side with Kyiv. For instance, in Brazil, over 60% of respondents desire a Ukrainian victory in the war, while around 10% support Russia. It should be noted that the Brazilian government is working with China to achieve peace negotiations on unfavorable terms for Ukraine, while South Africa's ruling party has close ties to the Kremlin. Hong Kong, a province of communist China, turned out to be pro-Ukrainian according to the survey results.

USA or China

The final question asked which state, in the respondents' opinion, should be the leader of the world: the United States or China. On average, 59% of people said they would prefer America as the global leader. Only 22% of respondents supported China as the world hegemon.

Interestingly, a significant number of respondents in Global South countries supported the United States rather than China. In India, 79% of respondents back the U.S., as do the majority of people in all five South American countries where the survey was conducted. Most respondents in African countries (Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa) also leaned pro-American.

Only in one NATO member country and U.S. ally does the majority of respondents wish for Americans to yield world leadership to China. In Turkey, about 50% of respondents prefer China, while approximately 30% favor the United States. A majority of respondents in Egypt and Saudi Arabia also desire Chinese hegemony in the world.

Whoever becomes the next U.S. president, he or she must recognize that the overwhelming majority of the world supports Ukraine, and the United States has a vast reservoir of international trust and goodwill. The White House must do everything possible to enhance this support rather than lose it, concludes the Economist.