Americans’ favorable views of Canada have fallen to their lowest level on record, according to a new poll.
The findings, from Gallup’s annual World Affairs survey, show that while 80 percent of U.S. adults still view Canada positively, the figure has fallen nine percentage points from last year.
This is well below historical averages that have regularly topped 90 percent.
Why It Matters
For decades, Canada has ranked among the most favorably viewed countries in the United States.
That long‑standing consensus now appears to be being challenged amid trade disputes, security disagreements and deepening partisan divides.
What To Know
The decline in Canada’s favorability was driven largely by Republicans, the poll revealed.
Favorable views among GOP respondents dropped 23 points compared to 2025, from 85 percent to 62 percent, marking the lowest rating Gallup has ever recorded for this group.
Independent voters also became less positive, with 80 percent having a positive view this year, down nine points from 2025.
Democrats, by contrast, showed little change, with around 95 percent continuing to rate Canada positively, consistent with levels seen over the past decade.
The poll was conducted February 2 and 16 among a national sample of at least 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Results were weighted to reflect the U.S. population, and the margin of error was plus or minus four percentage points.
The favorability downturn comes during a year of visible strains between Washington and Ottawa. Trade and tariff disputes, disagreements within NATO, and President Donald Trump’s remarks about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state have played out publicly.
Differences over the Israel‑Hamas war, the Ukraine‑Russia conflict, and U.S. interest in Greenland have further complicated relations.
However, Canada still ranks near the top of Gallup’s list of countries rated favorably by Americans. Only Japan and Italy scored higher this year, with Canada tied with Denmark at 80 percent.
What People Are Saying
Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup’s senior editor, wrote: “Over the past 25 years, views of nations such as France, Russia, China and Cuba have shifted from positive to negative and back again depending on the countries’ similar or opposing policy responses to international events.
“One constant has been Americans’ very positive views of Canada and Great Britain. While Americans remain positive toward those countries, their opinions have never been less positive than they are today, as the countries’ foreign policy goals and actions are testing the limits of the long-term friendships.
“These less positive views are especially prominent among Republicans, who are inclined to back the U.S. as it is being governed by a president from their own party. In contrast, Canada and Great Britain are now led by parties from the opposite end of the political spectrum, which has likely been a factor in their opposing some of Trump’s actions.”
Methodology
The findings come from the Gallup Poll Social Series, a long‑running set of public opinion surveys designed to track Americans’ views on social, economic, and political issues over time.
Introduced in 2001, the series updates hundreds of trend questions — some dating back to the 1930s — using consistent wording and timing to allow reliable year‑to‑year comparisons.
Gallup interviews U.S. adults aged 18 and older living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia using a dual‑frame design that includes both landline and cellphone numbers selected through random‑digit dialing. Interviews are conducted in English and Spanish. Each monthly survey includes a minimum of 1,000 respondents.
