Sub-Saharan Africa Leads Strong Global Endorsement of United Nations as Global Approval Reaches 50%
KIGALI / WASHINGTON — Public support for the United Nations remains overwhelmingly positive worldwide, driven significantly by robust approval across Sub-Saharan Africa. Across 137 countries surveyed in 2025, a median of 50% of adults approve of the job performance of the UN, compared with 26% who disapprove, giving the organization a global net approval score of +24.—–Sub-Saharan Africa Emerges as a Global Pillar of UN Support
Sub-Saharan Africa recorded a net approval score of +43 percentage points, with 61% of adults approving of the UN’s job performance against 18% who disapprove. This makes Sub-Saharan Africa the second most supportive region in the world, trailing only Southeast Asia (+51 net approval).
Individual African nations demonstrate exceptionally strong confidence in the multilateral body:
- Liberia: Among current UN Security Council member states interviewed in 2025, Liberia recorded a 76% job approval rating for the UN—ranking second globally among Security Council members, behind only Denmark (79%).
- Zimbabwe: Set to join the Security Council in 2027, approval in Zimbabwe tops 60%, placing it among the most positive incoming member states alongside Portugal and Austria.
Regional Contrast: Middle East and North Africa
In sharp contrast to Sub-Saharan Africa’s high approval, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region stands out as the only region globally where disapproval substantially outweighs approval:
- MENA Regional Score: Posted a net approval rating of -23, with 23% approving and 46% disapproving of the UN’s job performance.
- North Africa Highlight: Tunisia registered one of the lowest net approval scores globally at -48.
Global Overview: UN Outperforms Individual World Powers
Globally, the UN’s performance ratings reflect widespread goodwill despite global conflicts and geopolitical tensions:
- Widespread Majority Support: Majorities approve of the UN in 67 of the 137 countries surveyed, and approval exceeds disapproval by at least 10 percentage points in 92 nations.
- Outperforming Individual Leaders: The UN’s 50% global median approval rating higher than the 2025 median approval ratings for the leadership of major individual powers, including Germany (48%), China (36%), the United States (31%), and Russia (26%).
Regional & Security Council Dynamics Elsewhere
- Top Global Region: Southeast Asia leads all regions with a +51 net approval (69% approval vs. 18% disapproval). The top three highest-scoring nations globally are located in this region: Vietnam (+75 net approval), Cambodia (+74), and Laos (+71).
- Other Positive Regions: Positive net approval prevails in Europe outside the EU (+27), South Asia (+26), the European Union (+23), Northern America (+12), Post-Soviet Eurasia (+11), Australia and New Zealand (+9), and East Asia (+8). Latin America and the Caribbean remains closely divided (+4).
- Permanent Security Council Members (P5): Views among permanent members differ sharply: approval stands at 59% in the United Kingdom and 55% in the United States, compared to 38% in France and 15% in Russia.
- United States Division: American public opinion is polarized by political affiliation—70% of Democrats view the UN as fulfilling a necessary role compared to 40% of Republicans. Americans rate the UN highest on delivering humanitarian assistance (45% good job), while giving lower marks on maintaining international peace and security (25%).
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