Full Breakdown
Americans Rate UN Poorly in New Gallup Poll
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Findings of the Gallup Survey
A Gallup poll of 2,024 U.S. adults found that a strong majority view the United Nations unfavorably across its five primary objectives. Seventy-three percent rated the UN’s efforts to uphold international peace and security as poor, while only 25 percent said it is doing a good job. Seventy percent judged the organization’s performance on upholding international law and protecting human rights as poor, with just 28 percent offering favorable ratings for both. Sixty-three percent said the UN is doing poorly in supporting sustainable development, compared with 34 percent who view it positively. On humanitarian assistance—food, shelter, and medical care for people affected by war, famine, or natural disasters—53 percent gave a poor rating and 45 percent a favorable one. Overall, about six in ten Americans consider the UN’s handling of world problems to be poor.
Partisan Differences in Perception
Democrats are the most supportive of the UN’s work. Thirty-five percent of Democrats rated the UN’s peace-and-security efforts favorably, versus 32 percent of independents and 19 percent of Republicans. On humanitarian assistance, 55 percent of Democrats expressed approval, compared with 43 percent of independents and 36 percent of Republicans. Support for sustainable development, human-rights protection, and international-law enforcement follows a similar partisan pattern, with Democrats consistently outpacing independents and Republicans.
Context and Timing
The survey was conducted in early September, shortly before the annual UN General Assembly. Gallup noted that the poll’s release coincides with heightened global challenges, including the Russian-Ukrainian war, Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza, and ongoing U.S.–Israeli tensions over Iran. Internationally, majorities in 67 countries approve of the UN’s performance, while nine countries disapprove, highlighting a stark contrast with U.S. sentiment.
Verbatim Quote
“The last time a majority of Americans approved of the job the UN was doing was in the period after 9/11.” — The Gallup