World's most well-liked countries
Lauren Sherman, ForbesTraveler.com - Tue Oct 6, 4:47 PM

The U.S. claims the top spot in a global survey of culture, tourism, governance and residents.

Chicago was dropped from hosting the Olympics in the first round of decisions last week. And stateside, Barack Obama's average approval rating last month was 52%, according to Gallup. That's compared to spring numbers in the mid-60s.

But two recent reports show that globally, positive opinion of the U.S. has blossomed. Approval of America among the French rose to 75% this year, from 42% in 2008. In Britain, those numbers are 69% and 53%, respectively, according to this year's Pew Global Attitudes Project. The 2009 Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index, released Monday, also supports this notion.


For the first time since 2005 when Simon Anholt--an independent policy adviser to 20 national, regional and city governments--started conducting the survey, the U.S. has been named the most admired country in the world, climbing six spots in the rankings from 2008. Rounding out the top five are other beloved countries like France, Germany, the U.K. and Japan.

Anholt attributed the U.S.' rank to global confidence in Obama. He also believes that former president George W. Bush's incredibly unpopular foreign policy pulled the country down in terms of image. After he left office this year, the only way for the U.S. to go was up. "The country's position was artificially depressed by Bush," says Anholt.

An increase in U.S. popularity meant a decrease for its neighbor Canada. The country dropped three spots.

"I prophesied that if the image of the U.S. ever improved, the perception of Canada would suffer," says Anholt. While Canada scores high for its friendly people and beautiful landscape, outsiders know little else about the country's culture. All they do believe, Anholt deduces, is that Canada is the opposite of the United States in policy. "If the U.S. is illiberal, intolerant and aggressive, then Canada is liberal, tolerant and passive," he says. "Now the seesaw has gone the other way, and Canada is losing its identity."

Behind The Numbers

To complete this survey, Anholt, in partnership with Princeton, N.J.-based market research firm GfK Roper, surveyed 20,000 people from 20 countries--chosen for geographic and economic diversity--over the summer of 2009. The survey asked respondents to rank 50 countries in six categories: governance, culture, products and services, people, tourism and immigration/investment.

The "governance" section of the survey included questions on human rights and foreign policy, while "culture" encompassed heritage, popular culture and sports. The "products and services" section asked about brands each country is known for (e.g., IKEA is associated with Sweden). The "people" category included queries on the perceived attitudes of each country's citizens (that is, whether or not they seem hard-working, warm, friendly or tolerant). Questions in "tourism" focused on whether or not the respondents would want to visit these countries on vacation. And "immigration/investment" asked about living in these countries and investing in their businesses.

Most countries in the top 10 scored fairly well in every area, but with exceptional strength in one category. For example, Australia, with its enviable beaches, mountains and distinctive !@#$%*, is "a tourist destination to die for," says Anholt. And while the French aren't, for the most part, thought of as particularly friendly or warm, Anholt says that in terms of culture and tourism, the country scores high. Germany is widely admired for its brands such as Adidas, Volkswagen and Hugo Boss.

All in all, these are places many of us would like to visit, and possibly live. The question is, will the U.S. remain in the top spot next year?

"It'll keep its place for as long as Obama is in office," says Jose Filipe Torres, chief executive of Bloom Consulting, a Madrid-based brand strategy firm with clients including Spain, which tied with Sweden for 10th place. However, he doesn't think that U.S.' newfound branding power indicates anything about its economic future. "Good brand positing doesn't always mean more tourism, economic development and foreign investment."

I quoted Joe Wilson when I read the thread title.

"It'll keep its place for as long as Obama is in office," says Jose Filipe Torres, chief executive of Bloom Consulting

increased sales of US brands

and you were about as accurate as him, too

Interesting. I'm going to go with the hypothesis that Bush simply lowered the opinion of the US artificially. It's not so much the fact that Obama is now the President, but the fact that Bush is no longer President.

Wait... there still exists products not made in China?!

Interesting. I'm going to go with the hypothesis that Bush simply lowered the opinion of the US artificially. It's not so much the fact that Obama is now the President, but the fact that Bush is no longer President.

WUT

edit-I find it interesting that Germany was #1

Like I give a **** what other nations think about us.

that's right, it's not like international opinion has any impact on how well a country does. Germany didn't care what people thought of them in the 1930s, and look at them now!

that's right, it's not like international opinion has any impact on how well a country does. Germany didn't care what people thought of them in the 1930s, and look at them now!

They did pretty damn well for themselves for a while until actual war broke out.

They did pretty damn well for themselves for a while until actual war broke out.

because actual wars are nothing to do with what other nations think about you.

I think declaring aggressive war had more to do with the outbreak of war than anyone's opinion of Germany at the time. Many people in Europe actually liked Germany's National Socialist government.

Especially those Jews.

Can't please 'em all.

I don't think there is enough alcohol in this world to allow me to respond to that without physical harm.

that's right, it's not like international opinion has any impact on how well a country does. Germany didn't care what people thought of them in the 1930s, and look at them now!

Don't hurt yourself there, Goldberg.

They're actually doing fairly well now.

Don't hurt yourself there, Goldberg.

Not exactly, the Europeans like Obama too. As evidenced by his trip to Germany.

or Italy is the ancestral land of the Romans.

The French, on the other hand, mostly deserve that reputation for being less than warm in my experience, though, as with every group, there are plenty of exceptions.

The US being alienated like Nazi Germany eventually was is extremely unlikely. I'm quite confident we could exterminate everyone in Iraq and people would poo-poo about it when they realize how dependent they are on the US.

Dont be too full of yourself. I highly doubt that we wouldnt give a damn.

Europeans like every Democrat President.

Obama just happened to follow one of the least liked Presidents in Europe in recent history.

Don't hurt yourself there, Goldberg.

Being from a country well regarded in the world is great when traveling, though I would often have people ask me where I was from with great curiosity, only to display obvious disappointment when I told them I was Canadian.

I guess people like us, but aren't too excited about us. Canada is like that sensitive nice guy women always claim they're looking for but inevitably pass up for that rowdy jack $@! America.

I had this talk with two brits and two aussies last night. The thing about Canada is Europe knows you're quite like them, and they (no-offense my great neighbor to the north) but they want to meet someone they hear so much about for being different and yet so successful in many ways. They said Canada is great, they're heading their this coming weekend, but the U.S. is a mix of home (English is spoken here, etc) yet so many new things that it's like visiting an entirely foreign new country yet having the perks of home.

It may sound silly, but popularity is a national security issue. I'm glad we're in our rightful place at #1.

This is actually quite true from what I've heard myself. The way I heard it put to me though was like this:

Britain and America are two countries separated by a common language.

We are so common in that our language is similar, but even then it's entirely different, and changes as you go from place-to-place in the U.S., and our entire culture is entirely different, with the exception of (a good number of people anyway) being Christian (among a few other things).

Sarcasm, I assume.

No. And I agree with him, too.

What in god's name makes it America's "right" to be most popular? That's utterly inane.

Get over it commie, or get out.