Trust in global powers −1 from 2025
89% of Australians trust Japan to act responsibly in the world, making it the most trusted power six years running.
342 questions, from 351,500 data points, over 22 years
How do Australians feel about the world in 2026?
For more than two decades, the Lowy Institute’s flagship annual poll has revealed how Australians feel about the world and their place in it.
- Trust in the United States −5 from 2025
Only 31% of Australians trust the United States to act responsibly in the world.
- Confidence in world leaders −4 from 2025
Only 21% of Australians have confidence in US President Donald Trump to do the right thing in world affairs.
- Importance of the United Nations New in 2026
70% say the United Nations remains important to Australia’s national interests.
- Feelings towards other nations +1 from 2025
New Zealand topped the feelings thermometer for the 16th year running, registering a warm 86°.
- US alliance: importance to Australia’s security −7 from 2025
73% say Australia’s alliance relationship with the United States was important to its security.
- United States’ defence of Australia Stable from 2025
63% say the United States would come to Australia’s defence if Australia were attacked.
- Foreign military based in Australia −2 from 2023
55% of Australians were in favour of the United States basing military forces in Australia.
- Australia and the United States under President Trump −10 from 2025
47% say Australia should remain close to the United States under President Donald Trump.
- Policies of President Trump +10 from 2025
59% say they disapprove of Donald Trump’s policy of demanding US allies to spend more on defence.
- Trump and travel to the United States New in 2026
65% of Australians say they are less likely to travel to the United States with Donald Trump as president.
- China: economic partner or security threat +11 from 2025
61% said China was more of an economic partner than a security threat to Australia.
- China: Australian policy settings −6 from 2025
54% say Australia should be working with allies to deter China’s use of military force.
- China as a military threat −7 from 2025
62% said it was likely that China will become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years.
- Australia’s response to a Chinese invasion of Taiwan −1 from 2023
60% of Australians support deploying the Royal Australian Navy, alongside the United States, to help prevent China from imposing a blockade around Taiwan.
- Superpowers in the future −2 from 2025
54% of Australians said ten years from now, China would be the most important and powerful country in the world.
- Opinion on US–China relations New in 2026
64% of Australians say the United States should prioritise stabilising its relationship with China over challenging its role in the world.
- Relations with superpowers: United States and China −7 from 2025
Only 45% say Australia’s relationship with the United States was more important than Australia’s relationship with China.
- Influence in Pacific Island countries −6 from 2025
Only 33% say Australia has the most influence in Pacific Island countries.
- Federal government foreign policy performance −12 from 2024
37% said the current federal Labor government is doing quite a good job of handling Australia’s foreign policy.
- Acquiring nuclear-powered submarines +1 from 2025
68% of Australians said they were in favour of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.
- Acquiring nuclear weapons −10 from 2022
29% of Australians said they were strongly against acquiring nuclear weapons.
- Australia’s response to the war in Ukraine −3 from 2025
70% say they would support providing military aid to Ukraine.
- Defending allies New in 2026
79% say Australia should go to the defence of Papua New Guinea if it were attacked by another country.
- Economic optimism −11 from 2025
41% were optimistic about Australia’s economic performance over the next five years.
- Supply chains −2 from 2023
68% said ensuring that supply chains run through countries that are friendly towards Australia, even if it means higher prices.
- Fuel security New in 2026
74% of Australians were in favour of increasing Australia’s emergency fuel reserves to 90 days.
- Climate change −2 from 2025
49% of Australians say global warming is a serious and pressing problem that requires strong action.
- Net zero: economic opportunity or cost Stable from 2025
38% say achieving the net zero target would leave the Australian economy better off, with the same proportion saying it would be worse.
- Democracy −1 from 2025
73% of Australians said democracy is preferable to any other kind of government.
- Risks and benefits of artificial intelligence −11 from 2024
34% say the potential benefits of AI outweigh the potential risks to society.
- Immigration rate −9 from 2025
29% say the total number of migrants coming to Australia each year is about right.
- Cultural diversity −17 from 2024
73% said Australia’s culturally diverse population has been positive for Australia.
