Canadian Trust in U.S. Plummets to Record Low

Canadians’ perception of the United States has hit a seven-year low, according to a new Research Co. poll.

Just 26% of Canadians now hold a favourable view of the U.S.—a staggering 28-point drop from July 2024 and the lowest level since tracking began in 2018. Only Russia (19%), Iran (17%), and North Korea (17%) rank lower.

“For the first time since January 2019, fewer than a third of Canadians hold a positive opinion of the United States,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co.

“The previous low was 32% in July 2020, while the previous high was 64% in February 2024.”

Favourable views of the United States are lowest in Atlantic Canada (17%, -30), followed by Quebec (25%, -27), British Columbia (26%, -24), Ontario (also 26%, -31), Alberta (29%, -24) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (30%, -30).

At least three-in-ten Canadians have a positive opinion of China (30%, +8), Saudi Arabia (31%, +6), India (33%, +3) and Venezuela (34%, +8).

More than half of Canadians hold favourable views of South Korea (57%) and Mexico (59%, +15).

Canadians aged 55 and over are more likely to express positive opinions of Mexico (65%) than their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (58%) and aged 18-to-34 (56%).

Five G-7 nations continue to garner the highest proportion of favourable views from Canadians: the United Kingdom (72%, +2), Italy (72%, +4), Japan (71%, =), France (67%, +2) and Germany (66%, -1).