Israel has been identified as the most negatively viewed country in the 2026 Global Country Perception Ranking, according to a new international survey. The study, conducted by research organization Nira Data, analyzed opinions from 46,667 respondents across 129 countries and three international organizations. North Korea, Afghanistan, and Iran followed Israel on the list of least positively perceived nations.

The survey attributes Israel’s declining global image to the ongoing war in Gaza, large-scale displacement of Palestinians, food shortages, and rising violence in the occupied West Bank. Allegations of international law violations by human rights groups, UN experts, and international courts have further worsened perceptions of the country. In contrast, Switzerland topped the list of most positively viewed nations, followed by Canada, Japan, Sweden, and Italy.

The United States also saw a sharp drop in its global standing, now ranking among the five most negatively viewed countries. Analysts linked this decline to President Donald Trump’s foreign policies, strained NATO relations, trade disputes, and Washington’s role in the Iran-Israel conflict.