Public Perception of the United Nations
A significant number of American adults hold the view that the United Nations (UN) is not fulfilling its responsibilities well. A recent Gallup survey indicates that 63% of respondents rated the UN’s performance as “poor.” In contrast, only 32% expressed that the UN is doing a “good” job.
Interestingly, while 60% of participants acknowledged the UN’s necessity, polls found that 38% think it should be functioning differently. This is somewhat of a shift from findings between 2005 and 2019, according to various polling organizations.
When breaking down opinions by political affiliation, 59% of Republicans felt the UN isn’t playing its essential role, whereas only 19% of Democrats shared that sentiment. Notably, 48% of Democrats rated the UN as performing poorly, with 46% believing it does good work. By contrast, a striking 75% of Republicans expressed discontent with the organization’s efforts, while merely 21% gave it a favorable rating.
The Gallup survey was released in anticipation of the UN’s 80th Annual General Meeting, which is set to begin on Tuesday. This timing is noteworthy as it coincides with a significant moment for the organization.
For the survey, data was gathered through telephone interviews conducted from August 1 to 20, including responses from a random sample of 1,094 adults aged 18 and older across the U.S., particularly those aged 50 and above, as well as residents of Columbia. The margin of error stands at plus or minus 4 percentage points, with a 95% confidence level.
